US judge stops building of Trump’s triumphal arch in Washington, DC

A United States federal judge has issued a temporary injunction stopping work on Donald Trump’s 250ft (76-metre) "triumphal arch" in Washington DC. On Friday, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan mandated a 14-day pause on all construction activities, even though the Trump administration had previously indicated that building could commence as early as Thursday.

The National Capital Planning Commission granted approval for the project following a nine-hour hearing on Thursday, where the final vote was 8-4. This decision was reached in spite of objections raised by dozens of witnesses who opposed the structure.

Judge Chutkan’s ruling comes after several legal challenges were initiated against the arch, including a lawsuit filed in February by a group of Vietnam war veterans. Donald Trump intends to construct the arch near the Arlington National Cemetery, prompting fears that it may obstruct the sightline between the cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

In a court document, the veterans stated that the view between these two locations was “carefully designed to symbolise the unification of the country after the Civil War and the strength of a united nation”. Donald Trump initially suggested the arch last year to commemorate 250 years of US independence, comparing it to structures such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which was built in 1836.

This project, sometimes referred to as the "Arc de Trump", is one of several initiatives proposed by Donald Trump for the capital. On Friday, he also signed a proclamation declaring his Oval Office and Cabinet room as a national monument.

Various projects put forward by Donald Trump have been halted by judges in the past. Following the Democratic Party's victory in the midterm elections this week, these proposals may now encounter greater levels of scrutiny.