WASHINGTON, US — US President Donald Trump has said his planned triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery will also serve as a military complex capable of storing and deploying drones, accommodating snipers and holding large quantities of ammunition.
Trump announced the change in a Sunday, September 20, 2026, post on his Truth Social platform, saying he had agreed to modify the project at the “strong request” of the US military and for national security purposes.
The announcement adds a military function to a controversial monument project that Trump has proposed as part of his plans to reshape Washington.
Trump says arch will store drones and ammunition
Trump said the planned facility would be designed to “house, store” and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones.
He also said snipers would be positioned on the roof and plaza areas and that the complex would have storage for large quantities of sniper ammunition.
“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote.
Trump did not identify any specific security threat prompting the change or provide details on how the military component would operate.
250-foot arch planned near Arlington
The proposed structure would stand about 250 feet (76 metres) tall near Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC.
The project is intended to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary and would be positioned near Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Earlier designs showed a large golden, winged figure of Lady Liberty at the top of the arch, flanked by two gold eagles.
The structure would also carry the inscriptions “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All.”
At 250 feet, the arch would be substantially taller than the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial but roughly half the height of the Washington Monument.
Military role added to monument plans
The military conversion represents a significant change from the previously announced plans for the structure.
The Washington Post reported that the military-complex proposal had not previously been raised during the required historic-preservation process. The administration has been consulting Washington and Virginia preservation authorities as part of that process.
It is also not yet clear whether the new military functions require additional approvals.
The project has not received all of its final approvals. A federal court has also ordered the administration to provide advance notice before undertaking activity at the site, apart from work to identify underground cultural artefacts.
FAA clears aviation hurdle
The announcement came shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the proposed arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft, subject to safety measures.
The FAA requires the structure to have a prominent light and an “eternal flame” on top to make it visible to aircraft.
The proposed site is about 3,000 feet from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and lies within the airport’s approach and departure corridor.
Aviation experts and lawmakers have previously raised concerns about the structure’s location, while the FAA determination can still be reviewed if a petition is filed by October 18.
Veterans challenge Trump arch
The triumphal arch has also faced opposition from veterans and historic-preservation advocates.
Veterans have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the project, arguing that the structure would interfere with the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The National Park Service has also warned of potential adverse effects on historic properties and called for additional planning around the project.
The proposed arch is one of several major construction and renovation projects Trump has pursued in Washington during his second term.
Trump reshapes Washington
Trump has promoted a series of projects intended to transform the US capital, including a new White House ballroom, renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and changes involving the Kennedy Center.
The proposed White House ballroom, estimated at about $400 million, has similarly been described by Trump as serving national-security purposes.
The triumphal arch is among the most prominent projects, with Trump portraying it as a landmark addition to Washington ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary.
The latest proposal would give the monument an additional military function, although details about its design, operation and approval remain unclear.
