Kennedy family seeks to prevent Trump’s arch from overshadowing JFK’s Eternal Flame and family graves.
Published On 11 Nov 2026
Members of the Kennedy family have initiated legal proceedings to stop the construction of a 76-meter (250-foot) “triumphal arch” proposed by US President Donald Trump, asserting that it would detract from the solemnity of the area surrounding the graves of their distinguished ancestors.
On Tuesday, nine relatives, including children and grandchildren of former Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, filed a motion to intervene alongside a complaint in two ongoing federal lawsuits aimed at halting the arch’s development.
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The proposed structure would be situated in proximity to the graves of the late senators, who lie alongside their brother, former President John F. Kennedy, and the Eternal Flame that memorializes him at Arlington National Cemetery.
The plaintiffs contend that this arch would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites,” which attract millions of visitors annually.
The legal intervention is led by prominent Washington attorney Norm Eisen, representing the Democracy Defenders Fund, a center-left legal advocacy organization.
The motion alleges that the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior approved the construction of the arch, disparagingly referred to as the “Arc de Trump” by critics, without the necessary congressional consent.
Moreover, the plaintiffs argue that the massive structure would disrupt the historically significant line of sight that has existed for a century between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House across Memorial Bridge.
Numerous Plaintiffs
This high-profile intervention adds to a growing list of plaintiffs who have filed legal challenges against the controversial monument. This list includes Vietnam War veterans, a historian, and the governing bodies of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Arlington County.
Recently, District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a ruling preventing the Trump administration from beginning construction for an additional 14 days, in light of the multitude of lawsuits.
The arch’s construction would symbolize a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites, according to the Kennedy relatives, who expressed concern that accessing these sites would never be the same for them again, undermining the legacy that the Kennedy family intended.
This project represents just one facet of the president’s ambition to reshape various elements of Washington, D.C., alongside major renovations to a local golf course and discussions about the potential demolition of the Kennedy Center.
However, with Democrats gaining control of Congress during last week’s midterm elections, these proposed changes may face increased scrutiny.
In defense of the family’s stance, Rory and Maxwell Kennedy, grandsons of Robert F. Kennedy, articulated that this legal action revolves around “protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people.” They emphasized that their deceased relatives are among more than 400,000 veterans and family members interred at this revered site.
It is worth noting that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Trump appointee, did not participate in this litigation, as he remains estranged from much of his family.
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