Bill Clinton had a lot to say about some of Donald Trump‘s latest plans for Washington, D.C. – and he certainly didn’t hold back!
Presidents are no strangers to criticizing their predecessors and vice versa – how many times has Trump been rude about Joe Biden and Barack Obama? – and now Clinton has weighed in on some of the current president’s most controversial projects.
The former president, who was in the White House between 1993 and 2001, appeared to mock Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, which the president recently said would become a “military complex” to also house drones and snipers. Yes, really! Clinton also shared his thoughts on the ongoing dispute over Trump’s name at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, suggesting the controversy was a distraction from more important issues. Keep reading for more info…
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Bill Clinton Mocks Donald Trump's 250-Foot Triumphal Arch Plans
On Tuesday, September 22nd, former president Bill Clinton opened the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York and said quite a few interesting things while doing so. Most notably, he appeared to mock Trump's proposal for a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, which has been proposed as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Trump recently said the structure would also have military uses, including housing drones and providing a facility for snipers. On September 20th, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War Era many years ago, at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge, into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch."
He went on to say that it would "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage." He added: "There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World. Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., is the only one in the world that does not have a triumphal arch, but it will now and, by far, the greatest of them all!"
Clinton couldn't help but comment on it. "I suppose I could take my entire allotted time to discuss the self-evident wisdom of building an Arc de Triomphe in Washington to hold all our drones," Clinton said in his speech, which reportedly prompted the audience to burst into laughter.
Clinton didn't mention Trump by name during the remarks, but appeared to be referencing the president's recently announced plans for the arch. "Some of this stuff — it's hard to make up," Clinton added.
Bill Clinton Seemingly Calls The Kennedy Center Dispute A Distraction
The arch wasn't the only Trump-related controversy Clinton addressed during his speech, as he also weighed in on the ongoing dispute surrounding the president's name and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which Barbra Streisand also recently commented on.
Clinton seemed to suggest that it could be somewhat of a distraction, adding: "I personally think that the way we've argued about what's going on at Kennedy Center and all that kind of stuff — I think we've been majoring in the minors."
He went on: "And I think — do you really think a hundred years from now, anybody's going to care very much about whose name's on what building? Isn't it more important what happens in the building and what happens outside the building?"
Trump's Triumphal Arch Has Faced Opposition From Veterans And Lawmakers
Clinton isn't the only person to have raised questions about Trump's proposed triumphal arch. According to reports, three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration earlier this year in an attempt to stop the project, arguing that the huge structure would disrupt the experience of visiting Arlington National Cemetery and interfere with historic views between the cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
The plans have also faced opposition from some lawmakers and historic preservationists, while concerns have been raised over whether the project can legally go ahead without congressional authorization.
And Trump's more recent announcement that the arch would also function as a military complex has sparked further questions. Retired Marine Col. Mark Cancian questioned the practical need for a military facility in the proposed location, while Rep. Don Beyer criticized the national security justification for the project.
The White House, however, has defended the proposed arch, previously saying it would become "one of the most iconic landmarks" in Washington (and the world!) and would honor the sacrifices of American veterans.
