Kennedy relatives join legal fight against Trump's planned arch near Arlington
Nine Kennedy family members say the proposed monument would cast shadows over graves and disrupt historic views at Arlington National Cemetery.
By Hassan Ellis ·
Nine members of John F Kennedy's family are seeking to stop President Donald Trump's proposed triumphal arch in the US capital, arguing that the 250ft (76m) monument would obstruct views of the former president's grave and veterans' burial sites at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The family's legal action adds to challenges facing the project after a federal judge temporarily barred construction last week. The National Capital Planning Commission had approved the proposal, but US District Judge Tanya Chutkan subsequently ordered a 14-day delay before work could begin while the litigation proceeds.
The relatives filed their complaint as part of a joint lawsuit by Virginia and Washington DC opposing construction. Their motion also seeks intervention in two other cases brought by conservationists and veterans. They contend that placing the arch at the cemetery's gateway would harm historic sightlines and permanently change the setting of its graves and memorials.
The plaintiffs comprise seven children of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, their grandson and former Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy Jr, the son of Ted Kennedy. Robert F Kennedy Jr, who heads the Department of Health and Human Services in Trump's cabinet, is not among those bringing the challenge.
According to the family, shadows from the structure and changes to views would damage the surroundings of memorials and graves established in the Kennedys' honour. They argue that relatives would lose the ability to experience those sites as they previously had and as the family intended. Their objections also extend to the effect on visits to memorials for hundreds of thousands of US veterans.
The complaint alleges that the National Park Service and the Interior Department authorised construction on 5 November 2026 without obtaining the congressional approval required for the project. The arch, sometimes called the Arc de Trump, is intended to mark the country's 250th anniversary and forms part of Trump's efforts to reshape the capital.
The White House criticised the family's involvement, saying the monument was intended to honour those buried at Arlington. In a statement to the BBC, spokesman Davis R Ingle said: "The judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation." He also expressed confidence that the administration would prevail in court.
Another change Trump pursued involved the Kennedy Center, the major Washington cultural institution named for John F Kennedy. Trump added his own name to the building last year. It stayed on the facade for six months before the addition was found to be illegal and removed.
