10 Reasons to Oppose the “Arc de Trump”

Col. Ann Wright and Art Laffin protest President Trump’s proposed arch.

There was already widespread opposition to Trump’s proposed arch at Memorial Circle in Arlington, Virginia—a 250-foot structure, roughly the height of a 20-story building and 50 percent taller than Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. Now the controversy has intensified: Trump says the arch, which originally included plans for an observation deck, a café, a gift shop and exhibition space, would also function as a military complex, housing drones, snipers and ammunition.

Here are 10 reasons (really 9 plus your own) to oppose the “Arc de Trump.”

1. It would overwhelm one of America’s most important historic landscapes. The giant arch would sit directly on the ceremonial axis connecting Arlington House, Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial, dramatically altering this historic view and dwarfing the surrounding monuments rather than complementing them.

2. It clashes with the very meaning of the site. Arlington Memorial Bridge and the surrounding landscape were conceived as symbols of national reconciliation after the Civil War. And Arlington National Cemetery is a solemn resting place for hundreds of thousands of service members. Inserting a gigantic triumphal arch into this setting would transform a landscape devoted to reconciliation, remembrance and sacrifice into a monument celebrating triumph and power.

3. Congress never authorized it, and veterans are taking Trump to court. Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian have filed a federal lawsuit arguing that Trump cannot unilaterally erect such a monumental structure without congressional authorization and the legally required reviews. A federal judge has already imposed restrictions on work at the site while the legal challenge proceeds. The question is simple: Does a president have the right to build whatever monument he wants on public land without congressional approval?

4. Construction would disrupt commuters and military funerals. Building a 250-foot monument at this location could mean years of construction along a major commuter artery connecting Washington, DC, and Virginia. Excavation, heavy equipment, traffic disruptions, noise and dust would also affect the area immediately outside Arlington National Cemetery, where military funerals and burials take place.

5. Trump now proposes turning the arch into an armed military complex. Trump has said the arch would house large numbers of drones and sniper ammunition, with positions for snipers on the roof and plaza. Why in the world would we want to militarize this historic site when the Pentagon is just two miles away? And what exactly is the purpose of stationing snipers and drones at a ceremonial monument?

6. Drones, snipers and ammunition raise serious safety concerns. The proposed location is only about 3,000 feet from Reagan National Airport and lies near its approach and departure corridors. Adding drone operations, ammunition storage and armed positions to an already heavily traveled location raises obvious aviation and public safety questions. Drone flights in the Washington area are already subject to exceptionally strict restrictions. What additional risks would this new military complex create?

7. The price could be enormous. Estimates for the arch were already running above $100 million before Trump announced his military ambitions for the project. Adding drone facilities, ammunition storage, sniper positions, communications equipment and security infrastructure could drive the cost substantially higher. At a time when Americans are struggling to afford housing, healthcare and other basic necessities, why should taxpayers foot the bill for Trump’s monumental ambitions?

8. National security could become an excuse to circumvent the law. Trump originally promoted the project as a ceremonial triumphal arch. His announcement that it would also serve as a military complex raises a new set of questions about how the administration intends to justify the project. Critics, including Rep. Don Beyer, whose district includes the proposed site, have questioned whether national security is being invoked to overcome legal and preservation obstacles. Will the administration use security claims to evade the normal approval process?

9. It is a monument to Trump’s colossal ego. Trump has repeatedly treated beloved national spaces as extensions of his personal brand—from his $400 million White House ballroom project to his insistence on putting his name on the Kennedy Center. When asked about the purpose of the arch, Trump told reporters it is meant to honor him! The nation’s capital is not supposed to be a playground for presidential self-glorification. These monuments and landscapes belong to the public, not to one man with an ego that knows no bounds.

10. Add your own. What am I missing?

The administration is pushing ahead despite all these unresolved objections. But opponents are fighting back through lawsuits, public testimony and protests. If you want to get involved, join Third Act DC’s organizing and demonstrations, follow the National Capital Planning Commission’s review and public-comment process, contact your members of Congress and sign the MoveOn petition opposing the arch.

Speak up. Say no to the Arc de Trump.