Commission gives preliminary approval to Trump's triumphal arch in Washington

The Commission of Fine Arts gave preliminary approval Thursday to President Trump's plans for a triumphal arch in Washington, though the panel's vice chairman suggested significant modifications to the structure.

The commission, which is filled with Trump appointees, has an advisory role on the design of the project but no enforcement power. The panel asked the administration to return with updated drawings before a final vote.

Trump's proposed arch would stand 250 feet tall on the other side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. The president has described the project as surpassing the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which he visited during his first term to attend a commemoration of Armistice Day marking the end of World War I.

"The one that people know mostly is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, and we're going to top it by, I think, a lot," Trump said in December of his plans. "The only thing they have is history."

The vice chairman of the commission suggested changes including the removal of golden eagle statues and a winged angel atop the structure that together account for a third of the arch's height. The commission's request for revised drawings indicates the panel wants to review modifications before proceeding to a final decision on the project.

The outcome reflected tension surrounding Trump's efforts to shape Washington's architecture. While the president has sought to limit obstacles from entities that might normally review such projects, the scale and lack of consultation on the design have drawn scrutiny even from some of his appointees on the commission.

The Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled to receive updated drawings from the administration before making a final determination on whether to approve the triumphal arch project.