Nine members of the Kennedy family asked a federal judge in Washington for permission to intervene in two lawsuits seeking to stop Donald Trump’s plan to build a colossal 250-foot (76-meter) memorial arch at Arlington National Cemetery. The Kennedys argue that the towering structure would cast a shadow over their relatives’ gravesites.
The family argued that the shadow would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites.” They also said the arch’s planned location in the nation’s capital would obstruct the clear sight line from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame memorial, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, an “essential element” of the memorial’s design, according to the family.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order, effectively preventing work from starting on the arch. The decision came just hours after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to approve the project following a lengthy hearing that drew widespread opposition, according to The Hill.
The high-profile feud between the Kennedy family and Trump
The triumphal arch is planned for Memorial Circle, between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. At 250 feet tall, it would be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial. The project is one of several initiatives in Washington that President Trump has pursued to reshape the capital according to his vision. The Kennedys and Trump have previously clashed over his attempt to remake the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which he closed after a judge blocked him from adding his name to the building.
The Kennedys seeking to join the suit include seven of Robert F. Kennedy’s living children, except Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services. He has been considered a pariah within the Kennedy dynasty since establishing close ties with Trump.
In a statement, Rory Kennedy and Maxwell Kennedy emphasized that their plea was about “protecting sacred spaces,” asserting that Trump had “violated the laws and procedures established by Congress to protect this most sacred national memorial.” The statement read, “A towering arch casting shadows across the graves of our father, mother, and uncles, as well as the graves of so many who have served our country, would also cast a shadow over our democratic principles, undermining the safeguards established by our elected representatives to protect this hallowed ground for generations to come.”
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded to the lawsuit by saying the administration is “confident we will be fully vindicated as this litigation proceeds.” Ingle added, “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. The judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation.”
Published: Nov 11, 2026 08:30 am