Trump says new arch will also deploy drones, position snipers and store ammo
President Donald Trump said Sunday that his planned triumphal arch near the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be converted into a military complex capable of housing drones, deploying snipers and storing 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.
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Trump said the 250-foot structure would have the "rapid ability" to deploy large numbers of drones, as well as snipers positioned on the roof and plaza areas. He also said the complex would store "large quantities of sniper ammunition."
"There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World," Trump wrote.
The monument, inspired by Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, is intended to welcome visitors crossing the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the nation’s capital. The proposed structure would be clad in granite and topped with three golden statues.
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The project has drawn criticism from preservationists, lawmakers and veterans, who argue that it could disrupt views of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Opponents have also questioned whether the project requires congressional approval under federal law.
The National Capital Planning Commission has approved the site and preliminary plans, but the project still requires additional review. Construction was previously expected to begin this month.
The arch is one of several major construction and renovation projects Trump has pursued in Washington.
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The administration has also begun work on a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom. The sprawling addition, announced last July, will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and follow the White House’s classical design.
The White House currently lacks a formal ballroom, and the new structure is expected to replace the East Wing. Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ballroom was estimated to cost $200 million and would be financed by Trump and private donors.
The ballroom is not the only update.
Trump has introduced gold accents in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, lined the "walk of fame" with portraits of former presidents, including a photo of the autopen representing former President Joe Biden’s time in office, added stone pavers to the Rose Garden lawn and installed two 88-foot flagpoles.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comment.