President Donald Trump announced Sunday that his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Washington, D.C., will also serve as a military complex equipped to deploy snipers and drones, a shift he said came at the request of the armed forces and was necessary for national security. The declaration adds a new dimension to a project that has already drawn lawsuits and protests over its size and location near Arlington National Cemetery.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had agreed to convert the structure into what he called a “top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch.” He said the facility 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.” He gave no details. Construction plans and timing remain unclear. The Department of Defence declined to comment.
A project already under siege
The arch, planned for a site across the Potomac River between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, has faced opposition from its inception. Trump first proposed the monument last year to mark 250 years of US independence, comparing it to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but calling it “the biggest one of all.” More than 100,000 people submitted comments to the National Park Service during its review of the proposal, according to NPR.
In February, three Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit arguing the arch would block the view between the cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, a sightline they said was “carefully designed to symbolise the unification of the country after the Civil War and the strength of a united nation.” The plaintiffs also contend that any major monument in the capital requires approval from Congress, which has not been granted.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered the government to give 48 hours’ notice before proceeding with any activity on Memorial Circle. The order warned that construction or demolition before the National Park Service issues final authorization would violate the court. Her ruling came the day after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote on X that the administration planned to break ground within two weeks, despite awaiting final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission and other federal reviews. Burgum called the project the “Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck.”
Design and scale
The Trump-appointed U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved a design in April featuring golden lions at the base, golden eagles, and a winged angel atop a baroque arch resembling the one in Paris. An earlier rendering included a golden, winged Lady Liberty at the top, with the phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” inscribed in gold on either side. At 250 feet, the structure would be more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and roughly half the height of the Washington Monument. Height restrictions generally apply.
The FAA ruled last week. The arch would not pose a hazard to nearby Reagan Washington National Airport but would require a warning beacon on top.
Trump has framed other projects similarly. He has referred to a planned $400 million White House ballroom, which includes an underground bunker, as a “military complex.” The East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for the 8,400-square-metre ballroom. In March, Trump told reporters that “the military is building a big complex under the ballroom.” The Supreme Court allowed that project to continue in August despite a lawsuit from historic preservation groups. His other capital projects include a gilded makeover of the Oval Office, paving over the White House Rose Garden, and renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters rallied around the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after Trump threatened to demolish the venue if he is not allowed to add his name to it. Trump has said that adding his name is the only way to ensure the venue gets enough funding to survive.
Trump wrote that Washington, D.C., is “the only one in the world that does not have a triumphal arch” among “the 59 top cities and Capitals,” though he did not specify which cities he was referencing. “There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” he added.