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U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that a planned triumphal arch in Washington would also serve as a military facility capable of housing drones, snipers, and ammunition.
“I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch... into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said the structure would provide space to store and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones, while sniper positions would be located on the roof and plaza areas. He added that large quantities of sniper ammunition would also be stored at the site.
“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” Trump said, arguing that Washington is the only one among 59 major cities and capitals without a triumphal arch.
The proposed structure would be built along the Potomac River near Arlington National Cemetery.
Because of its planned size, the arch would obstruct sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, where hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members are buried.
The Trump administration has not sought congressional input for the project.
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has launched several renovation projects in Washington, some of which have led to legal disputes.
They include the construction of a large ballroom at the White House, which involved demolishing an entire wing of the presidential residence.
Another project involves extensive renovation of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Trump also temporarily had his name placed on the walls of the Kennedy Center, the arts institution named after former President John F. Kennedy, before a judge reversed the move.
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