Kennedy family joins lawsuit to block Trump's Independence Arch in Washington DC
Nine members of the Kennedy family have joined a lawsuit seeking to stop construction of Donald Trump's proposed Independence Arch in Washington DC. The legal challenge centres on the planned 76-metre structure at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, which the family says would affect views toward Arlington Memorial Cemetery. A judge has already issued a temporary order blocking construction until November 19.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The complaint says the arch would obstruct sightlines to the cemetery and could cast shadows over graves, including those of Kennedy family members and the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame. The filing argues that the location would interfere with a line of sight that has existed for nearly a century and was intended to symbolise national unity after the Civil War.
The children and grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy have now added their names to the wider legal challenge.
The dispute adds another layer to a project that has already drawn legal scrutiny. The arch is part of Trump's broader effort to reshape parts of the US capital, alongside renovations to the White House east wing, work on a new golf course and changes around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump has described the arch as a major military-style complex, saying it would be able to store and deploy drones and sniper equipment.
Advert for a company owned by the publisher of 360LiveNews.
The case matters because it involves one of the most sensitive landscapes in Washington, where memorials, cemeteries and federal buildings are closely linked to national symbolism. Arlington National Cemetery is a prominent burial site, and the Kennedy gravesites there are among the most visited memorial points in the area. Any change to the surrounding sightlines is likely to be politically and legally significant, especially when it involves a presidential project.
The National Capital Planning Commission approved the final site and building plans for the arch on November 5, according to the material filed in the case. That approval came before the latest court action, which has temporarily halted construction while the dispute continues. The legal challenge is being pursued with support from the Democracy Defenders Fund, which is representing the Kennedy family members involved.
What remains unclear is how long the temporary block will stay in place and whether the court will allow construction to resume after November 19. It is also not yet clear how the broader legal challenge will be resolved or whether the project's design or location could still change. For now, the arch remains on hold as the court case moves forward.
#Kennedyfamily #DonaldTrump #IndependenceArch #WashingtonDC #ArlingtonNationalCemetery
Advert for a company owned by the publisher of 360LiveNews.
