Vietnam Veterans Stand Against Trump's Vanity Arch Threatening Historic Memorials
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Three Vietnam veterans and an architectural historian are fighting back against President Trump’s reckless plan to erect a 250-foot arch, which they argue would desecrate the historic sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Three Vietnam veterans and architectural historian Calder Loth have courageously filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the construction of a 250-foot 'Great Triumphal Arch' that President Donald Trump is pushing to place near Arlington National Cemetery. The plaintiffs, standing up for historical preservation and respect for the fallen, argue that the imposing structure would obliterate the cherished view connecting the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington House, and the cemetery—a sightline that was intentionally designed to honor the nation’s history and those who served.
"Our plaintiffs are three Vietnam veterans and an architectural historian. All of them have a deep personal relationship with Arlington National Cemetery," said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the veterans. "Two of our veteran plaintiffs hope to be buried there."
The National Park Service has acknowledged that the project would have "adverse effects on historic properties," and the agency has indicated that these negative impacts cannot be fully avoided due to the arch’s location. Yet, the Trump administration, in a blatant disregard for democratic process and public input, is exploiting a nearly century-old 1925 law that authorized two much smaller columns—never built—to justify this massive new monument without seeking fresh congressional approval.
"The idea is that really it's just an institutional question of who gets to decide: Is it one person, the person sitting in the White House, or should it be a democratic deliberative process to figure out what these monuments should look like, where they should be situated, what they should commemorate, and the like," Sansone added.
The veterans argue that the arch, which Trump has boasted would be the largest in the world, is an act of egotism that disrespects the solemn character of the cemetery and erases a symbolic view that holds deep meaning for the nation. Their lawsuit seeks to halt this ill-conceived project until it can be determined whether proper congressional authorization is required, demanding accountability and respect for democratic norms.