Donald Trump

Trump Says He Wants Drones and Snipers in 250-Foot Triumphal Arch, Complicating His Controversial Proposal

The arch has yet to receive final approval—and Trump’s newly announced military use was not part of the original federal review.

Reem Ibrahim | 9.22.2026 3:38 PM

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Since last year, President Donald Trump has been wanting a 250-foot triumphal arch built in Washington, D.C.. On Sunday, he said that the arch would, in fact, be a "Military Complex" with "large numbers of drones, plus Snipers."

"At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch… into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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!"

The idea for a triumphal arch situated in Memorial Circle, located by the entryway into D.C. from Virginia, was first publicly suggested in 2024 by Catesby Leigh, a former research fellow at the National Civic Art Society (NCAS). He argued that although a temporary arch may be more feasible to complete prior to America's 250th anniversary, a "handsome permanent arch" would "be the happiest outcome of all." The idea was presented to Trump in 2025 by Justin Shubow, president of the NCAS. It was intended to be a temporary construction to........

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