About America's 250th
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, here’s how to enjoy—and endure—the festivities in the Washington area.
The White House ballroom/bunker
Assuming it survives ongoing legal challenges, Trump’s planned East Wing redux, a 90,000-square-foot building atop an underground military complex, will feature “bio-defense,” “bomb shelters,” “very major medical facilities,” and “a laser for when you expect James Bond to die, not talk.” Actually, we made the last one up.
The Kennedy Center Makeover
Trump is proposing a two-year, $250-ish million renovation he says will repair infrastructure issues—although a judge has ordered that the board revisit the decision to close the center during any work. If the plan goes through? Surprise! It will possibly add more gold to the interior color scheme.
The Arc de Trump
Taller than the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, Trump’s proposed 250-foot-high victory arch sports a Lady Liberty–esqe statue (gold), two eagles (also gold), four lions (more gold), and the inscription “One Nation Under God” (guess the color). Asked whom the arch is meant to honor, Trump said, “Me.” We didn’t make that up.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
The White House ballroom/bunker
Assuming it survives ongoing legal challenges, Trump’s planned East Wing redux, a 90,000-square-foot building atop an underground military complex, will feature “bio-defense,” “bomb shelters,” “very major medical facilities,” and “a laser for when you expect James Bond to die, not talk.” Actually, we made the last one up.
The Kennedy Center Makeover
Trump is proposing a two-year, $250-ish million renovation he says will repair infrastructure issues—although a judge has ordered that the board revisit the decision to close the center during any work. If the plan goes through? Surprise! It will possibly add more gold to the interior color scheme.
The Arc de Trump
Taller than the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, Trump’s proposed 250-foot-high victory arch sports a Lady Liberty–esqe statue (gold), two eagles (also gold), four lions (more gold), and the inscription “One Nation Under God” (guess the color). Asked whom the arch is meant to honor, Trump said, “Me.” We didn’t make that up.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
