Trump Says Planned Triumphal Arch Will Serve as Military Complex With Drones, Snipers and Ammunition

President Donald Trump said Sunday that his proposed triumphal arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge will be adapted to function as a military complex, including capabilities to house and deploy drones, position snipers and store ammunition.

“At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch … into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The proposed structure, which is expected to rise 250 feet and include three golden statues, would be built near Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington.

Trump said the structure would have the “rapid ability” to launch large numbers of drones. He also said snipers could be positioned on the roof and in areas around the plaza, while the complex would hold “large quantities of sniper ammunition.”

“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote.

The monument is modeled in part on Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and is intended to serve as a prominent entrance to the nation’s capital for people traveling across Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery. Plans call for the structure to be covered in granite and topped by three gold-colored statues.

The proposed project has faced criticism from preservation advocates, lawmakers and veterans. Critics say the arch could interfere with historic views of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Questions have also been raised over whether federal law requires congressional approval for the project.

The National Capital Planning Commission has approved the location and preliminary plans, although further reviews remain necessary. Construction had previously been expected to begin in September.

The arch is part of a broader series of construction and renovation projects Trump has undertaken in Washington.

The administration has also started construction of a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House. The addition, announced last year, is expected to accommodate about 650 seated guests and is being designed to complement the White House’s classical architecture.

The White House does not currently have a formal ballroom. The new facility is expected to replace the existing East Wing. Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the project was estimated to cost $200 million and would be funded by Trump and private donors.

The ballroom is one of several changes being made to the White House complex.

Trump has added gold detailing to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, placed portraits of former presidents along a “walk of fame,” including an image of the autopen associated with former President Joe Biden’s administration, installed stone pavers in the Rose Garden and added two 88-foot flagpoles.