Kennedys move to block Trump's arch
The gist
Nine Kennedy family members filed a motion to block Trump's 250-foot arch near Arlington.
The arch would shadow the family's gravesites and the sightline they chose.
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2026Three Vietnam War veterans asked a federal judge to prevent work from starting on the arch, warning the administration was seeking to outrace federal courts.
- Sep 29, 2026Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) objected to a Merkley motion that would have blocked Trump from building the arch.
- Nov 10, 2026Nine Kennedy family members filed a motion to intervene in federal court in Washington, D.C., to block the 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery and the city's historic monuments.
Key terms
- motion to intervene
- A legal request by a nonparty to join an ongoing lawsuit, either as a right or at the court's discretion.
- Arlington House
- A historic Greek Revival mansion in Arlington National Cemetery, built as a memorial to George Washington and once home to Robert E. Lee.
- Eternal Flame
- A presidential memorial at John F. Kennedy's grave site in Arlington National Cemetery, featuring a permanently burning flame.
Source: Wikipedia