‘Gonzo bonkers’: Trump’s plan to militarize triumphal arch sparks pushback

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White House Headlines - September 24, 2026

White House Headlines - September 24, 2026

Lawmakers and analysts alike are perplexed by President Trump’s surprise declaration that his proposed triumphal arch will house “a top grade military complex” in addition to tourist attractions.  

Trump over the weekend claimed that the structure, to be built between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, will “house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas,” as well as store “large quantities” of ammunition. 

Critics are dubious the administration can successfully argue in favor of such military measures for the arch, given its already close proximity to the Pentagon and several nearby bases and barracks. The changes needed to make the proposed 250-foot structure into a military site would also require new analysis from federal departments for ultimate approval, even as the Trump administration has sought to bulldoze ahead on construction.

Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank, said at first blush, adding military elements to the arch “is not totally fictional or crazy — but also not optimal.” 

With the arch being close to the White House, Congress, and the Pentagon, it could conceivably help defend the buildings from drones — albeit with target detection, radars and other receivers atop the structure rather than be used to launch U.S. drones, he told The Hill

O’Hanlon added that a technical analysis of military options and alternatives for the location would likely need to be done.

Trump claimed the changes were being made at the “strong request” of the U.S. military. Asked whether the Defense Department had requested the arch also double as a military complex, a Pentagon........

© The Hill