Trump's plan for triumphal arch moves step closer to reality

The Associated Press reported that the commission approved the concept for several projects, including the arch. 

The federal agency will next review updated designs for all three projects at a future meeting before taking any final votes.

Near the base of the arch there would be lion statues.

The AP reported that White House spokesperson Davis Ingle indicated that the commission's action is "another step in accomplishing President Trump's promise to the American people from the campaign trail - to Make America Safe and Beautiful Again."

Reports indicate that commission Vice Chair James C. McCrery II raised a number of design notes, including the possibility of not including the statues atop the monument.

"And I wonder ... if it's not even a better, more Washingtonian design without the three finials," he said.

"I'd say work on the lions and find replacements for them," he said, noting that, as he had indicated previously, "They're not of this continent."

The Associated Press contributed to this report