US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday in a post to Truth Social that he has agreed to a request from the military to transform his proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, into a facility for housing and deploying drones and sniper ammunition.
Trump cited national security concerns for the move but did not mention any specific threats in the post.
“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World. 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!” Trump’s post stated.
Growing pushback on Trump’s triumphal arch
Trump’s plan to build the arch has faced heavy criticism since its announcement for various reasons, including its location and the potential to obstruct views of other monuments in Washington.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the 250-foot (76-meter) arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft but would be required to have an “eternal flame” on top, clearing an aviation hurdle for the arch, which Trump proposed to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Aviation experts have raised safety concerns given its proximity to Reagan Washington National Airport while veterans have sued to block the arch, arguing it would destroy the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The project is part of the president’s broader drive to reshape Washington’s monumental landscape, including a new White House ballroom, renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and redevelopment of a golf course in East Potomac Park.
