President Donald Trump intends to create a triumphal arch in the nation’s capital, but the family of former US President John F. Kennedy has filed a lawsuit to stop the project.
The 250-foot (76-meter) building, according to nine members of the political dynasty, would obscure Kennedy’s burial and the remains of thousands of servicemen interred at Virginia’s Arlington National Cemetery.
Quick Facts About Trump's Proposed Arch
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project | Trump's Proposed Memorial Arch |
| Location | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Main Opposition | Kennedy Family |
| Reason for Opposition | Concerns over historic gravesites and views |
| Court Judge | Tanya Chutkan |
| Construction Status | Temporarily Paused by Court Order |
| Purpose | To mark America's 250th anniversary |
Kennedy family challenges Trump’s arch construction.
Reporters were informed by White House spokesman Davis R. Ingle that “the judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation.”As this lawsuit moves forward, we will keep fighting for this lovely and appropriate monument, and we are sure that we will be completely justified,” he continued.
In an attempt to halt building, the Kennedy family filed a complaint under a joint action initiated by the state of Virginia and Washington, DC. They claimed that “historically significant sightlines” would be damaged if the arch were built near the cemetery’s entrance.
Kennedy family opposes Trump’s proposed arch.
Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s seven children, their grandson, former Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy’s son, Edward Kennedy Jr., are among the claimants.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the Trump cabinet and head of the Department of Health and Human Services, is not included.
They want to become involved in two more lawsuits that veterans and environmentalists have filed to stop the development.
They claim that the Kennedy children “would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before” and that the arch would constitute a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites.
One of the president’s initiatives to revitalize the nation’s capital is the so-called Arc de Trump, which is intended to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
In honor of JFK, he also added his name to the Kennedy Center, a significant cultural institution in Washington, DC, last year.
Before the extension was declared unlawful and taken down, Trump’s name appeared on the facade for six months.
