Trump’s ‘Arc de Trump’ to Double as Military Complex, He Announces

President Donald Trump has radically overhauled plans for his so-called ‘Arc de Trump,’ announcing that the towering D.C. monument will double as a military complex at the ‘strong request’ of the U.S. military.

‘For National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War Era many years ago, at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge, into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,’ Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump announced that the arch will now be used to store drones and ammunition for rapid deployment in ‘large numbers,’ as well as house teams of snipers on the roof and plaza areas.

‘There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World. Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., Is The Only One In The World That Does Not Have A Triumphal Arch, but it will now and, by far, the greatest of them all! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump,’ he concluded.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted on Saturday that the proposed Arch would need to have an ‘eternal flame’ to prevent it from being a flight safety hazard. An FAA spokesperson shared with The Hill that there would additionally need to be ‘floodlight projectors pointed towards the Arch to make it noticeable for pilots.’

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had previously shared images of the gilded memorial arch on social media, noting at the time that the project will be ‘one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture.’ The design for the arch, slated to be placed between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, was initially proposed by Trump earlier in his second term.

The plans have sparked concern among some groups, including a D.C. planning commission that has not yet formally approved the project. Backlash also came from veterans and an architectural historian who filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to block the memorial's construction.

Plaintiffs cited concerns about the administration’s failure to secure congressional approval before attempting to build the arch on federal land, as well as its proximity to Arlington National Cemetery.

The Arc project represents one of several architectural endeavors Trump has pursued during his second term, often using security concerns as justification, as he seeks to leave a lasting physical mark on the nation’s capital. Elements of a separate White House Ballroom project have proceeded with funds allocated from the Secret Service budget, despite ongoing legal challenges.