"Accepting Strong Request from the U.S. Military"... Adding National Security Purpose Appears Aimed at Countering Lawsuits

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the massive, 76-meter (250-foot) triumphal arch currently being promoted for construction near Washington, D.C., will be built in a form combined with state-of-the-art military facilities.

On the 20th (local time), President Trump stated via his social media platform, Truth Social, "In accordance with the strong request of the U.S. military and for national security purposes, I have agreed to transform the magnificent triumphal arch into a form integrated with military facilities."

He went on to explain plans to deploy snipers on the upper floors and plaza of the arch, equip it with a system to immediately operate multiple drones, and store large quantities of ammunition.

President Trump boasted, "Among the 59 major cities worldwide, Washington, D.C., is the only one without a triumphal arch, but now the most overwhelming triumphal arch in the world will be built," adding, "There is no such facility anywhere else in the world."

Analysts suggest that the Trump administration's addition of military uses to the triumphal arch is a strategic move to evade legal disputes. The large banquet hall currently under construction at the White House has similarly been classified as a military complex under the logic of "national security necessity."

The planned site for the triumphal arch is the Memorial Circle area between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. This location is a scenic axis connecting the site of President Abraham Lincoln, who led the Northern Union during the Civil War, and the residence of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, symbolizing America's historical integration and reconciliation.

Because of this, U.S. veterans and historical preservation organizations have filed lawsuits demanding a halt to the construction, arguing that the triumphal arch severely damages the historical landscape and undermines the solemnity of the national cemetery. The fact that it nearly doubles Washington, D.C.'s signature height restriction (approximately 40 meters or 130 feet) is also a point of controversy.