Trump says his D.C. arch will serve as 'military complex' with snipers and drones

President Trump has claimed that military operations are needed at his proposed triumphal arch in Washington D.C., in order to protect national security. A federal court is weighing the arch's legality.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3979x2653+0+0/resize/3979x2653!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2Ff0%2F77131a394bf68ca9f41bf49ae1f6%2Fap26240737448587.jpg' alt='A mockup of President Donald Trump's proposed triumphal arch stands at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, June 27, 2026, in Washington.'/><p>President Trump has claimed that military operations are needed at his proposed triumphal arch in Washington D.C., in order to protect national security. A federal court is weighing the arch's legality.</p><p>(Image credit: Jen Golbeck)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5975449' />