Trump's Triumphal Arch to House Snipers as Kennedy Center Closes and Press Bans Escalate
On September 20, President Trump revealed plans for snipers and droneports at his envisioned 250-foot triumphal arch in Arlington, Virginia, which he now describes as a "top grade military complex" equipped with "large quantities of sniper ammunition." The following day, the Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) expressed its opposition to this military initiative in a letter to NPS regional director Tammy Stidham, with CEO Charles A. Birnbaum calling for a halt to the Section 106 review. Earlier, on September 15, Judge Christopher R. Cooper had prohibited the Kennedy Center from renaming itself after Trump, resulting in its closure by his order. On September 17, eight plaintiffs requested "independent protection" for the Center, while Judge Cooper required a 30-day notice for any renovations. Additionally, CNN, MSN NOW, and Politico are pursuing legal action after being barred from briefings.
Key facts
- On September 20, Trump announced snipers and droneports for his 250-foot triumphal arch in Arlington, Virginia, calling it a 'top grade military complex' that will store 'large quantities of sniper ammunition.'
- On September 21, the Cultural Landscape Foundation sent a letter to NPS regional director Tammy Stidham opposing the arch's military use, with CEO Charles A. Birnbaum calling it a 'fundament change' and saying the MOA is 'DOA.'
- On September 15, Judge Christopher R. Cooper blocked the Kennedy Center from renaming the building after Trump; the Center then closed to the public by Trump's directive that afternoon.
- Trump criticized Cooper's ruling on Truth Social and called for Congress to take over the Kennedy Center's operations.
- On September 17, eight plaintiffs—AIA, ASLA, Committee of 100 on the Federal City, DC Preservation League, Docomomo US, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Society of Architectural Historians, and TCLF—sought 'independent protection' of the Kennedy Center.
- Judge Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before any renovation changes.
- Greg Werkheiser of Cultural Heritage Partners called the order a significant win for the public.
- CNN, MSN NOW, and Politico correspondents are banned from White House press briefings and are suing; the five-network TV pool (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC) agreed not to cover pool-designated events, with no replacement pool.
Entities
Artists
- Donald Trump
- Charles A. Birnbaum
- Christopher R. Cooper
- Greg Werkheiser
- Tammy Stidham
- Bryan Boughton
Institutions
- Cultural Landscape Foundation
- National Park Service
- Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission
- Kennedy Center
- AIA
- ASLA
- Committee of 100 on the Federal City
- DC Preservation League
- Docomomo US
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Society of Architectural Historians
- Cultural Heritage Partners
- CNN
- MSN NOW
- Politico
- ABC
- CBS
- Fox News
- NBC
- The New York Times
- Truth Social
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Arlington
- Virginia