Trump says triumphal arch will be military complex with drones and snipers

September 20, 2026

President Donald Trump has announced plans to transform his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery into a dual-purpose structure that will also function as a military storage and deployment facility. The modified design will accommodate drone storage, sniper positions on the roof and plaza, and ammunition reserves, with Trump claiming these changes came at the military's request for national security reasons. The original architectural plans featured a golden winged Lady Liberty statue atop the structure with patriotic inscriptions, and the building would be significantly taller than the nearby Lincoln Memorial.

Who is affected

US military personnel who will use the facility
Residents and visitors of Washington DC where the arch will be located
Arlington National Cemetery neighbors, as the structure will be built just outside the cemetery
The Department of Defence, which has been contacted regarding the project

What action is being taken

Trump is updating the design plans for the triumphal arch to incorporate military capabilities. The Department of Defence has declined to provide additional details when reached for comment.

Why it matters

This project represents a significant militarization of a monumental structure in the nation's capital, combining ceremonial architecture with active military infrastructure. The facility would be unprecedented globally according to Trump's claims, and at 250 feet tall, it would dramatically alter the Washington DC skyline by dwarfing the Lincoln Memorial and reaching half the height of the Washington Monument. The project also reflects Trump's broader agenda to physically reshape the capital city through multiple large-scale construction initiatives.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC