Trump says triumphal arch will be military complex with drones and snipers – BBC

Trump says triumphal arch will be military complex with drones and snipers  BBC

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said the revisions were being made at the “strong request” of the US military and for “national security purposes”. He said the planned “top grade” complex would store equipment and provide a rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, with snipers positioned on roof and plaza areas and quantities of sniper ammunition held in storage. He offered no construction timetable or further design details. It was unclear whether additional approval would be required, while the Department of Defence declined to provide further comment. The 250-foot (76m) structure is planned for a site across the Potomac River from Washington DC, just outside Arlington National Cemetery, where construction was expected to begin this month.

An earlier rendering showed a golden, winged Lady Liberty atop the arch, flanked by two gold eagles, with “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” inscribed on either side. At its proposed height, it would stand more than twice the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and about half the height of the Washington Monument. Trump said Washington was the only one of “the 59 top cities and Capitals” without a triumphal arch, but did not identify them.