Kennedy family joins lawsuit to block Trump’s proposed arch

The nine Kennedys warn the arch would block sight lines for the Kennedy gravesites and the JFK Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery.WASHINGTON (CN) — A group of nine members of the Kennedy family on Tuesday joined a lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch just outside the Arlington National Cemetery, warning its construction would cause considerable harm to the Kennedy gravesites and the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame.The Kennedy family’s intervention in the case comes just five days after U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan preemptively blocked any construction at the Memorial Circle, a space between the cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial on the other side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.Rory Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Courtney Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Joseph P. Kennedy III and Edward M. Kennedy Jr., the children and grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, move to intervene as additional plaintiffs along a group of Vietnam War Veterans, the District of Columbia and Virginia.In their six-page motion, the Kennedys repeated concerns that the proposed arch would interrupt the line of sight between the Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, which is meandering to represent the nation’s unification following the Civil War.“That will also obstruct the clear sightline of the Kennedy gravesites and JFK Eternal Flame in Arlington National Cemetery, from the Arlington Memorial Bridge, destroying an essential element of the gravesites’ design; and will permanently cast a shadow over the graves of servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, including the Kennedy gravesites,” the family writes.John F. Kennedy is one of only two presidents to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery — William H. Taft is the other — and he is joined by his brother Robert F. Kennedy and former Senator Edward M. Kennedy, better known as Ted Kennedy. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is buried next to President Kennedy.“As members of the Kennedy family, intervenors have a particular interest in protecting the Kennedy gravesites, ensuring that these gravesites remain unimpeded as a solemn and sacred memorial to the legacy of the Kennedy family — including Robert F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, each of whom served with honor and distinction and sacrificed greatly for their country,” the family writes.They argue they would face particularized harms from the proposed arch that the current plaintiffs may not raise.The family is represented by Norm Eisen of the Democracy Defenders Fund.The arch has sparked criticism regarding concerns the height would further complicate the nation’s busiest airspace around Ronald Reagan National Airport — where a fatal mid-air collision between a passenger airplane and an Army helicopter occurred Jan. 29, 2025.Throughout his second term in the presidency, Trump has largely focused on remaking Washington in his image by initiating numerous construction projects at the White House, at the Lincoln Reflecting Pool, the East Potomac Golf Course and the Kennedy Center.The White House ballroom currently under construction on the former site of the East Wing has shared the president’s focus with his effort to close the Kennedy Center based on claims it faces substantial structural issues as well as his effort to place his name on the premier arts center.Trump has sought to rename the building the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center” — which was initially blocked — or to include an inscription crediting himself for any proposed restoration efforts.U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the proposed inscriptions in September along with the president’s plan to shut down the center for two years for renovations, rejecting claims by the center’s board of trustees that it faces bankruptcy.Before Chutkan granted the temporary restraining order on Thursday, the Trump-dominated National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to give final approval to the arch following a marathon hearing Thursday. Approximately 130 people signed up to testify against the project.Mark Paoletta, chairman of the planning commission, defended the project and said the panel would move toward construction.“President Trump’s historic vision for a monumental arch at Memorial Circle would complete a project over a century in the making, and honor our nation and her veterans, and provide the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery with the monumental gateway it deserves,” Paoletta said. “It would also represent a generational security opportunity to protect our nation’s capital.”Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads