The Donald Trump administration announced that the proposed 'Arc of Triumph' design at the memorial circle, near the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, is intended as a military complex with facilities including ammunition storage and shooting ranges.
Features of the Arc of Triumph
Trump wrote in a post on his social media: "There will be no facility like this anywhere in the world," adding that this arc has the capacity to host and rapidly deploy a large number of drones, with shooters stationed in "both the roof and field areas."
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This announcement comes nearly a year after the introduction of the 250-foot model of the arc in the Oval Office on October 15, 2025. In his initial proposal, Trump stated that this arc is designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of America.
National Security Reasons
Trump also stated that this arc holds special significance as it places the United States on par with other global capitals that have such monuments. He emphasized: "Out of 59 top cities and capitals, Washington, D.C. is the only city that does not have an Arc of Triumph, but now this arc will be the largest of them all."
However, Trump did not specify which 59 cities he was referring to or the basis for this comparison. His post also noted that changes to the arc's design were made "at the strong request of the United States Army" and for national security purposes.
While Trump has not provided further details about the security role of this military arc in Washington, he has not released any proposals or new models of potential changes.
This plan is similar to the government's defense of another project called the Great Hall of the White House, which was introduced as a private venue for state dinners and major events.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all appointed by Trump, approved the design of this project in May. House Democrats have called it a "flashy" project and have proposed a plan to prevent its construction.
Nicolas Sanson, a lawyer for the protesters, stated: "The President's new reason for this unpopular construction does nothing to remedy its fundamental illegality." He added that without congressional approval, the construction of this arc at the memorial circle is illegal.
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