Trump monument approved despite public opposition and Arlington concerns

US President Donald Trump moved a step closer to building his proposed triumphal arch in Washington after a federal design commission approved revised plans for the monument on Thursday.

According to CNN, the updated design keeps the arch at 250 feet tall but removes an eight-foot base included in earlier proposals, lowering the overall height of the structure.

Four gold lion statues that had been part of the original design were also removed after concerns from the Commission of Fine Arts.

The arch, inspired by Arc de Triomphe, is planned near Arlington National Cemetery and is intended to mark America’s 250th anniversary.

Trump praised the project after the approval, calling it “beautiful.”

The revised design will use granite instead of marble for the exterior, with officials citing durability concerns.

The proposal has faced widespread criticism from preservation groups, historians and members of the public.

Critics have also raised safety concerns because the monument would sit less than two miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The project must still be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission before construction can move ahead.