President Donald Trump said Sunday that his proposed arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery would not simply be a monument.
In a social media post, Trump said he had agreed, at what he described as the “strong request” of the military, to convert the planned 250-foot-tall structure into what he called a “top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch.”
According to reporting adapted from the Associated Press, Trump said the arch would be designed to store and rapidly deploy “large numbers of drones,” support snipers on “both the roof and plaza areas,” and hold “large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage.”
A Monument With a Security Mission
The proposed arch is planned for a circle near Memorial Bridge, placing it between two of the capital region’s most prominent landmarks: the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump has framed several of his Washington beautification projects as serving a defensive purpose. The AP report noted that he has also referred to a new White House ballroom as a “military complex” and argued that it is needed for national security.
Part of a Bigger Washington Makeover
The arch is one of several projects Trump is pursuing as he seeks to leave a lasting physical mark on Washington.
Other efforts cited in the report include the White House ballroom, renaming and renovating the Kennedy Center, refurbishing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and rebuilding a golf course in East Potomac Park.
The East Potomac Park golf course project could significantly reduce public access to running and biking paths, according to the AP-based report.
