Debates over what visitors will see and experience in the nation’s capital city have taken center stage as Americans prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
For President Donald J. Trump, the event inspired a massive redevelopment project. Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has argued that Washington, D.C., needs serious renovation. To date, the president’s beautification projects include repainting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool “American flag blue,” demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make room for the construction of a large ballroom, and plans for a 250-foot-tall “triumphal arch” near Arlington National Cemetery.
