The Kennedy family is taking legal action to halt the construction of a massive arch at Arlington National Cemetery, claiming the structure would overshadow the gravesites of President John F. Kennedy and his brothers while violating protections for the historic site.
Nine members of the family, including Robert F. Kennedy’s children Rory and Maxwell Kennedy, filed a motion this week to join existing lawsuits against the 250-foot triumphal arch project, which was championed by former President Donald Trump. According to the New York Times, the family argues the arch would “permanently cast a shadow” over the Kennedy burial plots and obstruct views of JFK’s eternal flame.
‘A Shadow Over Democratic Principles’
“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,” Rory and Maxwell Kennedy said in a statement. They contend the project undermines legal protections meant to preserve Arlington as sacred ground.
The legal filing specifically notes that the arch would disrupt the carefully designed sightline to President Kennedy’s eternal flame memorial, calling it “an essential element of the gravesite’s design.” Both Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy are buried near their brother in a prominent section of the cemetery.
Growing Opposition to the Arch
The arch has faced mounting legal challenges from veterans groups, historians, and local governments, including Arlington County and the District of Columbia. While the National Capital Planning Commission granted final approval for the project this week, a federal judge immediately issued a 14-day halt on construction to review pending lawsuits.
If built, the structure would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, altering the landscape of one of America’s most revered military burial grounds. The Kennedy family framed their involvement in the lawsuit as a defense of both historic preservation and the rule of law.
“Today, members of the Kennedy family are joining with the other litigants in this case to protect this historic site โ and to defend the rule of law and separation of powers,” their statement read.
Source: www.breitbart.com โ https://www.breitbart.com/pre-viral/2026/11/11/kennedy-family-joins-lawsuit-to-stop-trumps-arch-over-arlington-saying-it-would-shadow-jfks-gravesite/