Trump’s DC restoration push draws rare praise from some Democrats
Trump’s top arts commissioner details Washington’s Arc de Triomphe project
Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the United States Commission of Fine Arts, details President Donald Trump’s vision for a 166-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. Cook clarifies the scale of the project, comparing it to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, and discusses historic plans for several arches across the city. He shares his personal involvement in previous similar projects and the timeline for building such a monument.
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Democrats are praising President Donald Trump as his efforts to revitalize Washington, D.C., as the semicentennial approaches, breathe new life into neglected landmarks through various restoration projects.
“I can’t believe it took this long, but it really makes me incredibly happy to see,” Carter Christensen, ActBlue’s communications strategist, wrote on
Construction and landscaping projects in Washington, D.C., have accelerated in recent months as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in July and follow Trump’s broader efforts to beautify the city and reduce crime trends.
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Democrats praise Trump for recent restoration plans in Washington, DC. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
As the city’s fountains reopened earlier this week, Democrats praised seeing the city come back to life.
“The best thing this administration has done and it’s not even close,” Tré Easton, vice president of the liberal think tank Searchlight Institute, said Tuesday.
The fountain at Meridian Hill Park reopened in late April after repairs to cracks in the walls and a redesigned landscape. The 13-pool cascading fountain, one of the longest in North America, was left dry after the National Park Service closed the lower level of the park for renovations in 2020.
New fountains in Lafayette Park, located in downtown Washington, were also turned on for the first time.
“I can say unequivocally: All the fountains in the nation’s capital should be working and I’m glad the Trump people got it done,” another Democratic strategist wrote on X.
“He’s the one to give credit to,” Trump critic and Substack author Anthony LaMesa posted Tuesday on X. “The Trump administration is finally fixing the fountains around Washington, DC, which have been out of commission for many years,” he added.
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Nine fountains are being rehabilitated and returned to service, while nine other operational fountains are expected to undergo maintenance and system upgrades, according to the National Park Service.
“President Trump’s common-sense efforts to make DC safe and beautiful again are so popular that even Democrats are publicly praising the president for these much-needed and long-overdue renovations,” White House Press Secretary Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital.
Democrats examined renovations to the White House, renaming the Kennedy Center and building a new arch. (Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Our nation’s capital will be more spectacular than ever for America’s 250th birthday, thanks to President Trump!” Rogers added in a comment to Fox News Digital.
Our nation’s capital will be more spectacular than ever for America’s 250th birthday, all thanks to President Trump. (White House)
President Trump has requested a $10 billion Presidential Capital Management Program in his 2027 budget. The funds would continue priority construction and rehabilitation projects in the Washington, DC area.
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Trump also pursued other high-profile changes related to his broader vision for overhauling the city, including renovations to the White House, renaming the Trump-Kennedy Center and preparing plans for the installation of the Arc de Triomphe — all of which drew attention from Democrats as the president’s “vanity” projects.
