In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that, "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," adding that the structure would "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."
The proposed arch, envisioned to rise 250 feet—about twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial—would sit on Memorial Circle between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, a location that has drawn sharp criticism from preservationists and veterans groups.
More than 100,000 comments have been submitted to the National Park Service during its review of the project, reflecting widespread public opposition. A lawsuit filed by a group of Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian argues that the arch would desecrate the hallowed grounds of Arlington and that the president lacks authority to proceed without congressional approval.
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin issued an order requiring the government to give the court 48 hours’ notice before undertaking any activity on Memorial Circle, warning that construction or demolition without final National Park Service authorization would violate the court’s injunction.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, in a recent X post, said the administration plans to break ground on the arch within two weeks, even as the project still awaits final clearance from the National Capital Planning Commission and other federal reviews.
Trump highlighted that Washington, D.C., is the only major capital without a triumphal arch and claimed the proposed structure would be "by far, the greatest of them all," positioning the military‑focused design as a unique national‑security asset.