Donald Trump has said a planned 76-metre arch in Washington would be transformed into a military complex capable of deploying drones and snipers.
The US president said on social media that he had agreed to the change at the “strong request” of the military. He described the structure as a “top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch” designed to store and rapidly deploy drones, with snipers positioned on the roof and in the surrounding plaza.
Trump also said the arch would hold “large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage”.
The memorial is proposed for a traffic circle beside Memorial Bridge, one of several crossings linking Washington with northern Virginia. Groundbreaking had been expected at the start of this month, but the project has not received final planning approval.
The Pentagon said it had no information beyond the president’s statement.
The arch is one of several projects Trump is pursuing as part of his plans to leave a lasting mark on the US capital. Other proposals include a ballroom at the White House, the renaming and renovation of the Kennedy Centre, and work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
