RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
President Donald Trump has said his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery will also serve as a military facility, adding a new justification to the controversial project.
Mr Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, said the structure would function as a top-grade military complex capable of housing large numbers of drones and snipers.
He said the facility would also have storage capacity for ammunition and provide rapid access to the military equipment.
“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” Mr Trump said.
The proposed arch is one of several projects through which the Trump administration is seeking to reshape parts of Washington, D.C.
The proposed structure would be located at a traffic circle near the bridge connecting Washington with Virginia, directly opposite Arlington National Cemetery.
The plan has drawn opposition from preservationists and military veterans, who argue that the structure would affect the historic character of the area.
Opponents have also raised concerns about its impact on the visual corridor between the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House, the former home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
The planned arch would include an observation deck for visitors.
Critics have further argued that congressional approval may be required for the project.
The National Capital Planning Commission, one of the federal bodies involved in reviewing major changes to government property in Washington, has granted preliminary approval to plans submitted by the Interior Department.
The commission could consider final approval as early as October 1.
A report by the National Park Service found that the proposed arch could have adverse effects on dozens of historic properties.
The report said the project would alter the continuity of the historic design of Washington and affect views of several significant monuments.
However, the assessment also concluded that the proposed location was central to the project, describing it as “inherently location dependent” and not readily transferable to another site.
The Interior Department has defended the project, while the Trump administration has increasingly highlighted national security and military uses as part of its justification.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said earlier in September that excavation work was expected to begin within two weeks.
Government lawyers subsequently clarified in a court filing that the immediate work would involve archaeological surveys rather than full construction.
The surveys are intended to help ensure compliance with federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act.
No visible construction activity had been observed at the proposed site at the time of the report.
The project also cleared an aviation-related hurdle last week after the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the proposed structure would not interfere with aircraft operations at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Similar argument used for White House ballroom
Mr Trump’s latest argument for the arch mirrors the administration’s national security rationale for a proposed ballroom at the White House.
The president has said the ballroom would also include military and security-related facilities.
The administration began emphasising the national security component of the ballroom project after it became the subject of legal challenges.
The US Supreme Court last month allowed construction of the ballroom to proceed while legal disputes surrounding the project continue.
