Macron Comments on Trump's Planned Arch in Washington, D.C.

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the notion that President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch will rival the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.</p> <p>In an interview with ABC News’s David Muir, Macron responded to Trump’s claim that the Washington, D.C. arch would surpass the Paris monument “in every way.”</p> <p>“No, I mean, Paris would remain Paris, and the Arc de Triomphe would remain the Arc de Triomphe, with the history, with the style,” Macron stated. “I have the feeling that these monuments are bigger than ourselves.”</p> <p>Macron also noted that his relationship with Trump remains strong during his second term, emphasizing their ability to be “frank” with each other despite occasional disagreements. “We have a very good personal relation, and he’s very energetic,” he said. “We disagree, but we have always been extremely frank to each other. I am always respectful.”</p> <p>The planned 250-foot triumphal arch is designed to be located between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery at the Memorial Circle on Columbia Island. It has recently passed key regulatory reviews necessary for construction to begin, which will require a 20-hour-a-day work schedule over two to three years. The Arc de Triomphe took nearly 30 years to complete, finishing in 1836.</p> <p>Recently, Trump indicated that the arch would also serve as a military complex housing drones and snipers, a proposal that has faced criticism from House Appropriations Committee member Mike Simpson (R-ID), who opposed using defense funds for the project.</p> <p>The Trump administration has not provided a detailed funding breakdown for the arch's construction, but the National Endowment for the Humanities’s spending plan suggests a combination of federal and taxpayer dollars. Trump previously mentioned the possibility of using leftover, privately raised funds from the White House ballroom.</p>