Trump presents his Arc de Triomphe via social media

On both sides of the work appear the words 'One Nation Under God' and 'Liberty and Justice for All', the only words visible in the design. The designs are attributed to Harrison Design, an architectural firm with an office in Washington.

Trump had already shown models of the arch during a fundraising dinner at the White House in October, organised for another of his urban transformation projects, the planned $400 million ballroom at the White House. On that occasion he had referred to the figure atop the monument as Lady Liberty. "Small, medium or large, they all look good," he had said, adding, "I think the larger one is by far the best."

The arch project is part of a broader offensive by the president to reshape Washington and the White House according to his own vision, including gilding the Oval Office, paving the Rose Garden and plans for a National Garden of American Heroes with 250 statues.

The most sensational step, however, was the sudden demolition last autumn of the East Wing of the White House to make way for the new ballroom. The unveiling of the new project comes as Democrats question the president's acceptance of foreign donations to fund the facility. A federal judge has ordered a halt to the work unless approved by Congress, a decision against which the administration has appealed.

A group of Vietnam War veterans has also initiated legal action to stop the construction of the arch, arguing that the work requires congressional authorisation and would obstruct the view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.