Trump Says Planned Arch Could Become Military Complex for Drones and Snipers

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Sunday that the monumental arch he envisions between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery would serve as a “top grade military complex,” equipped to accommodate drones and snipers and store ammunition.

The proposal reflects Trump’s broader argument that his plans to enhance the White House and reshape Washington also have a national security role. He has similarly described the planned White House ballroom as a “military complex,” saying the facility would be needed for defensive purposes.

Trump’s latest announcement comes as the arch faces a legal challenge. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump, has given the project initial approval. But three veterans and an architectural historian filed a lawsuit arguing that Congress must authorize the construction.

In a social media post, Trump said he had accepted the military’s “strong request” to transform the proposed 250-foot (76-meter) memorial arch into a “top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch.” He said the structure would be designed to house and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones, position snipers on its roof and plaza, and store substantial quantities of sniper ammunition.

The arch is planned for a traffic circle near Memorial Bridge, a major route and one of only a few bridges linking Washington with Northern Virginia.

The memorial is part of a wider effort by the Republican president to put his mark on the nation’s capital. Other initiatives include construction of the White House ballroom, renaming and renovating the Kennedy Center, restoring the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and rebuilding a golf course in East Potomac Park—changes that could sharply limit public access to nearby running and cycling paths.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the arch had been expected this month. However, the project still lacks final approval from the National Capital Area Planning Commission, which approved the location and preliminary designs during a July meeting. The commission is expected to revisit the proposal this fall.