President Donald Trump said his planned Triumphal Arch will be converted into a military complex to house drones and snipers.
“At the strong request of the United States Military, and 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, 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,” Trump said in a Sunday morning post on Truth Social.
“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!” he added.
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<p> ” data-large-file=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex.webp” src=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex.webp” alt=”The U.S. Capitol and a mock-up of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch.” class=”wp-image-4672590″ srcset=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex-1.webp 1024w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex-1.webp?resize=300,200 300w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex-1.webp?resize=768,512 768w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex-1.webp?resize=150,100 150w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trump-says-triumphal-arch-will-be-converted-into-top-grade-military-complex-1.webp?resize=696,464 696w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”><figcaption class=)
The U.S. Capitol and a mock-up of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch are seen from the ferris wheel at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)Trump didn’t specify whether or how this conversion would change the structure of the arch. Plans for the monument include plenty of internal space, including a mezzanine level for exhibit space, restrooms, a café, and a gift shop.
The arch has passed initial safety reviews, most recently being cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration last week following concerns that its 250-foot height would pose a threat to aircraft landing at the nearby Ronald Reagan Airport.
The agency said the arch would have “no substantial adverse effect” on flights, but did say that it would be required to boost its visibility to pilots with an “eternal flame” at the top and three floodlight projectors pointed at the structure.
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The arch must still be given approval from the National Capital Planning Commission before construction proceeds. It gave preliminary approval in July, but the final go-ahead is still in the works. Once construction begins, the National Park Service estimates it will require a 20-hour-a-day work schedule over two to three years.
As with Trump’s other grand projects in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area, his planned arch has proven controversial. The president has been fought on it every step of the way by Democrats, who have argued the structure is a vanity project and introduced legislation to block its funding.
