Virginia Congressman Don Beyer called Donald Trump's plan for a vanity arch stupid, dangerous, and unworkable.
Posted by The Briefing with Jen Psaki, Checked
- Sources
- 3 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
The Briefing with Jen PsakiSep 24, 2026
Reuters, a tier1 source, reports that Rep. Don Beyer called Trump's plan to base military drones and snipers at the proposed triumphal arch "stupid, dangerous, and unworkable," and the Alexandria Brief and The Independent quote him using the same words.
What was said
… It's like there's a new one every week. We're trying to keep track of it as best we can. He he is planned for this vanity arch. He he now wanted to double as a, quote, military complex housing drones and ammunition and staff with snipers. Your colleague, Virginia Democratic Congressman Don Byer, called the plan stupid, dangerous, and unworkable and pointed out that, obviously, such a militarized arch would endanger thousands of tourists, pedestrians, and nearby traffic because it's also meant to be a tourist site. What do you make of this national use of national security as justification? …
The Briefing with Jen Psaki · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Reuters (Sept 22, 2026) reports that Beyer said Trump's plan to include a large number of drones at the proposed arch would threaten aviation safety and called the idea "stupid, dangerous, and unworkable."[1]
Supports. The Alexandria Brief reports Beyer said the plan to turn the proposed arch into a base for drones and snipers was "stupid, dangerous, and unworkable."[4]
Supports. The Independent quotes Beyer calling the drone-launching site plan "a stupid, dangerous, and unworkable idea" and describes the arch as Trump's "triumphal arch."[5]
Context. Beyer's own press statement and other coverage describe the arch project as a "vanity project" and oppose it, which matches the claim's framing of the arch as a vanity project.[2][3]
Sources
5 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 1 primary, 2 not rated
- 1Trump arch drone plan needs FAA review, lawmaker saysreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Trump insists that the midterm elections won't impact his ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3Beyer Statement On Donald Trump's Vanity Archbeyer.house.gov · primary source · cited for: context
- 4Beyer calls Trump plan to base drones and snipers at Memorial Circle arch 'dangerous'alexandriabrief.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5How 'national security' has become Trump's crutch for getting his ...independent.co.uk · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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