Nine members of the Kennedy family asked a federal judge to join the legal battle blocking President Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot triumphal arch at Arlington National Cemetery. Just last Friday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order to halt construction hours after the project received approval.
The family argues the massive structure will cast shadows over the graves of their relatives and hundreds of thousands of other veterans. Their complaint asserts the arch would damage historic sightlines and permanently alter the experience for visitors honoring the fallen.
The Family’s Legal Argument
The group includes Rory Kennedy, Maxwell Kennedy, and other children and grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy. Two existing lawsuits already challenging the White House project saw them file a motion to intervene. Their lawyers say the arch would be a “permanent denigration” of the sacred ground.
The shadow from the 250-foot tower would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites,” the relatives argued in their filing, according to the New York Post.
Rory and Maxwell Kennedy issued a statement on behalf of the family to explain their decision. They stated, “This action is about protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people.” The group emphasized that their parents and uncles rest at Arlington alongside more than 400,000 other veterans.
The White House Response
President Trump has stated the arch is designed for military use and to honor American heroes. He agreed to convert the structure at the strong request of the United States Military and said the project is “a tribute to 250 years of American greatness”
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded to the new legal filing with a sharp rebuke of the family’s actions. He said, “It is unfortunate to see that some members of the Kennedy family have joined the litigation against the Arch as the project is intended to honor our heroes who rest in Arlington Cemetery.”
Ingle added that the “judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation.” Notably, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as Trump’s health and human services secretary, did not join the lawsuit despite his family ties.
The White House recently launched a new website to showcase the design, which features gold ornamentation and gray granite. The arch is planned for a spot between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery, a location that has sparked intense debate over historic preservation and national security needs.
