Beyer Says Trump Is Prepping Construction of His Self-Monument Arch
Rep. Don Beyer says construction vehicles have arrived at the Arlington-area arch site after Trump proposed using it to house drones and snipers.
What to know
- Trump proposed adding a drone and sniper storage function to his planned arch monument near Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport, citing national security.
- The FAA's prior 'no hazard' safety determination did not account for this drone use, meaning it would need to be redone; Beyer says the review was already a rubber stamp.
- The National Park Service found the arch would adversely affect dozens of historic sites, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, but approved it regardless.
- Beyer, who is pushing legislation to block the arch, says construction vehicles have now arrived at the site, suggesting Trump is moving to break ground despite unresolved legal and safety objections.
“Of course, Trump is not serious about any of this. He just wants this massive monument to his own ego built by any means available, and he has been told that he is likely to lose court challenges.”
Don Beyer, U.S. Representative (D-VA) · Beyer.house.gov statement ↗ · Sep 22
Donald Trump U.S. President
Don Beyer U.S. Representative (D-VA)Federal Aviation Administration Federal aviation regulatorNational Park Service Federal land management agency
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles
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Beyer says construction vehicles have arrived at the arch site
Beyer said he visited the Northern Virginia site Thursday morning after constituents reported construction vehicles arriving, telling reporters Trump appears to be laying the groundwork to begin building the arch.
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first by Yahoo, 4d ago · also The Hill
1 more headline
- Beyer says Trump is prepping construction of his arch The Hill · 4d ago
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Beyer condemns the drone-and-sniper arch plan as a pretext
Beyer issued a statement calling the drone-launch idea unworkable and dangerous near DCA's flight path, warning a sniper ammunition depot would sit near tourists and commuters, and accusing Trump of using national security as a pretext to force construction through legal opposition.
“He hopes to use national security as a ludicrous pretext to force construction through, just as he did with his wildly expensive White House ballroom boondoggle.”
— Rep. Don Beyer -
first by Beyer, Don, 5d ago
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background
Trump says arch would store drones and snipers for security — Trump posted on social media that his proposed arch monument would "convert" the site to house, store, and use large numbers of drones and snipers, along with sniper ammunition, framing it as a national security measure.
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background
FAA issues favorable air-safety ruling for Trump's arch — The Federal Aviation Administration issued a "determination of no hazard to air navigation" for the arch proposal, a ruling Beyer calls a rubber stamp; it also swapped a required flashing red light for an "eternal flame" floodlit by searchlights.