On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced plans to construct a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He stated that this structure would not only serve as a commemorative landmark but also function as a military complex. The proposed facility would house drones, snipers, and store significant quantities of ammunition. This development has raised questions about the intended use and implications for the surrounding area.
Trump cited national security concerns for the move, similar to the rationale given for the roughly $400 million ballroom complex being built on the site of the White House’s former East Wing, according to a Reuters report. Her ruling came a day after the US Interior Department announced plans to move ahead with work on the arch despite legal challenges and the absence of final approval from a government planning authority.
In a social media post, Trump said that at the “strong request” of the military he had agreed to turn the 250-foot (76-metre) arch “into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch, to house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage. The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft but would be required to have an “eternal flame” on top, clearing an aviation hurdle for the structure, which Trump proposed to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel, said the move appeared to be aimed at countering opposition to the arch, which is planned for a traffic circle near Arlington National Cemetery, about a mile from Fort Myer, an active Army installation, and roughly 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Pentagon. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan earlier this month ordered the Trump administration to provide 48 hours’ notice before carrying out any activity at the triumphal arch site.
Cancian also said storing ammunition at the arch would pose logistical challenges and questioned the value of positioning snipers there.
