Trump Says Washington Arch to Double as Military Facility with Snipers

US President Donald Trump has announced that a 76-meter-tall triumphal arch planned near Washington, D.C., will be built to serve a dual military purpose.

Local time on the 20th, President Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social, "At the strong request of the U.S. military and for national security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent triumphal arch into a form combined with state-of-the-art military facilities."

President Trump further noted that snipers will be stationed at the top and plaza of the arch, a large number of drones will be operated rapidly, and a large quantity of sniper ammunition will be stored there.

He emphasized, "There will be no facility like this anywhere in the world," adding, "Among 59 major cities around the world, Washington, D.C. is the only one without a triumphal arch, but now the greatest arch in the world will be built."

Building the arch as a dual-purpose military facility appears to be a measure in preparation for potential lawsuits.

It is seen as a move to assert the logic of national security necessity, similar to how a military purpose has already been added to a large banquet hall being constructed at the White House.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently concluded that the arch will not pose a danger to aircraft operations.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located near the site where the arch is to be built.

President Trump plans to construct the arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, which is immediately adjacent to Washington, D.C.

Originally, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery were built with national unity in mind.

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Union, and the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was located on the cemetery grounds, creating a landscape designed as a symbol of reconciliation.

Because of this, speculation has been raised that the construction of the arch could face hurdles in court.

U.S. veterans have already filed a lawsuit seeking to block the construction, arguing that it could damage the surrounding landscape.

President Trump is pushing for the construction of the 76-meter-tall arch to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States this year.

Washington, D.C. generally applies a height restriction of around 40 meters to protect the urban landscape, making the arch significantly taller than the limit.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.