USA20 September, 20262 min read
Donald Trump Agrees To Convert Arc de Triomphe Project Into Military Complex With Drones
Trump agreed to convert the Arc de Triomphe into a military complex housing drones. The complex would store ammunition and deploy snipers as part of its functions.
Trump backs military arch
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he agreed to convert the Arc de Triomphe project, which he proposed building near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, into a complex dedicated to storing and deploying drones and sniper munitions.
Trump attributed the decision to national security considerations and said the U.S. military made a “strong request,” while he did not indicate any specific threats.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the 76-meter-tall arch would not pose a danger to air traffic, but it mandated arming it with an “eternal flame” at the top.
Veterans filed lawsuits to stop the project, saying it would destroy the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, and aviation experts raised safety concerns due to the site’s proximity to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington.
Claims, counterclaims, and lawsuits
Trump said in a Sunday morning post on his Truth Social platform that he was updating the plans at the “strong request” of the U.S. military and for “national security purposes,” and he wrote that there would be “no facility like this anywhere in the World.”
The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Department of Defense did not provide independent details about the military request cited by Trump to convert the project into a facility with military functions.
Nicolas Sansone, one of the attorneys representing veterans and an architectural historian who sued, said Sunday that “Congress has not authorized the arch, and unless and until Congress does so, the project should not be permitted to move forward.”
Ed Stierli of the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association told CNN that “The location is reckless, it’s already deeply unpopular with veterans and the public, and regardless of what is inside of the Arch, it still has to follow the law.”
What comes next
The project is part of a broader presidential effort to reshape Washington’s memorial landscape, including the creation of a new ceremonial hall at the White House, the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and the redevelopment of a golf course in East Potomac Park.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft but would be required to have an “eternal flame” on top, clearing an aviation hurdle for the arch that Trump proposed to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The National Park Service completed a review and prepared an August report warning of possible negative effects on several adjacent historic monuments and sites, while final approval was expected potentially in November.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the Trump administration to give 48 hours’ notice before engaging in any activity on the site of the triumphal arch, and the administration signaled it was eyeing final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission during its November meeting.