President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that a planned 76-metre triumphal arch to be built near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington would serve as a "top-grade military complex," capable of housing drones, deploying snipers and storing large quantities of ammunition. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the decision came at the "strong request" of the military, citing national security as the driving rationale — though he identified no specific threats, and the Pentagon said it had no information beyond the president's statement.

The arch, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and proposed to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, adjacent to the Memorial Bridge — one of a handful of crossings connecting the capital with northern Virginia. At 76 metres, it would be roughly 26 metres taller than its Parisian counterpart. American media have estimated its cost at around $100 million, though the White House has not released an official budget. The project has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all appointed by Trump, but has yet to clear the National Capital Planning Commission, which is expected to revisit the matter this autumn.

The military framing has drawn immediate scepticism from critics, who see it as an attempt to use national security language to shield the project from legal challenges. A group of veterans and an architectural historian have already filed suit arguing that the arch requires congressional authorisation. "The President's belated efforts to manufacture a national security justification for this project do nothing to cure its fundamental illegality," said attorney Nicolas Sansone. Aviation safety concerns have also been raised: the proposed site sits in the flight path of Reagan Washington National Airport, a short distance away. Representative Don Beyer, a Democrat whose Virginia district borders the area, called placing a drone launch site in an active flight corridor "stupid, dangerous, and unworkable."

The arch is part of a broader campaign by Trump to leave a lasting physical imprint on Washington. Other projects include a roughly $400 million ballroom complex built on the site of the demolished White House East Wing — also described by Trump as a national security facility — as well as renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and plans to rename and refurbish the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Critics, including preservationists and elected officials, argue that these initiatives risk altering or diminishing some of the capital's most significant historic landmarks.

The repeated invocation of national security across multiple construction projects — from the ballroom to the arch — has drawn particular scrutiny. Opponents argue the framing is a legal and political strategy rather than a genuine defence rationale, especially given the number of military installations already operating in and around Washington. The Federal Aviation Administration has said the arch itself would not pose a direct hazard to aircraft but would require a permanent flame on top. Legal proceedings and outstanding planning approvals mean the project's timeline remains uncertain.