Donald Trump has proposed turning his planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington DC into a military complex equipped with drones, sniper positions and large quantities of ammunition.
The president said the facility, planned near the National Mall, was needed for national security. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch… into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch.”
He said the arch would “house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage”.
The proposal has faced opposition since plans emerged for the structure to be built between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. At twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, it attracted more than 100,000 public comments during a National Park Service review.
Legal challenge to Washington triumphal arch
The project is also the subject of a legal challenge. Earlier this month, US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered the government to give the court 48 hours’ notice before carrying out any activity on Memorial Circle.
Her order warned that starting construction or demolition before the National Park Service issued final authorisation would breach the court’s ruling.
The lawsuit was brought by a group of Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian. They allege that the arch would desecrate the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and claim that Mr Trump lacks the authority to build it without congressional approval.
Judge Chutkin’s order came a day after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on X that the administration planned to break ground within two weeks, despite still awaiting final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission and other federal reviews.
Mr Trump said there would be “no facility like this anywhere in the World”. He added: “Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TRIUMPHAL ARCH, but it will now and, by far, the greatest of them all!”
