Kennedy relatives seek to join lawsuit over Trump-planned memorial arch

Nine members of the Kennedy family filed a request on Tuesday in a Washington federal court to intervene in two existing lawsuits that challenge President Donald Trump’s plan to erect a 250-foot "triumphal" arch on Memorial Circle, between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The family argues the structure would cast shadows over the graves of President John F. Kennedy, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, and would obstruct the view from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame memorial to the Lincoln Memorial, which they describe as an essential element of the site’s design.

The intervenors include seven of Robert F. Kennedy’s living children, excluding Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a statement, Rory Kennedy and Maxwell Kennedy said the request aims to "protect sacred spaces" and alleged that Trump had "violated the laws and procedures established by Congress to protect this most sacred national memorial."

"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," the statement read.

The District of Columbia, Virginia and former U.S. ambassador Michael Lemmon have already sued over the project. The Kennedys contend they have a "direct, immediate stake" and share common legal questions with the existing plaintiffs.

A federal judge halted construction of the arch last week after a planning board, whose majority members are aligned with President Trump, approved the design. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle responded that the administration is "confident we will be fully vindicated as this litigation proceeds" and called the lawsuits an attempt to politicize a structure intended to honor the heroes buried at Arlington.

"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," Ingle said. "The judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation."