The nation's largest Democratic veterans organization, VoteVets, intensified its opposition to President Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, unveiling a new digital campaign on Tuesday that frames the project as a desecration of hallowed ground.
In a video posted to social media, retired Major General Paul Eaton, a VoteVets adviser, argued the structure would sever the sacred sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery, an act he described as "entirely inappropriate and borders on sacrilege to the men and women buried" there. The arch, which would include an observation deck for tourists, is slated for a site across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, directly in the cemetery's sightline.
Eaton also highlighted the logistical disruption the project would cause, noting that the National Park Service has said construction could run 20 hours a day for up to three years. "Every weekday somebody is buried at Arlington National Cemetery," he said, pointing to the potential for constant noise and activity to intrude on funeral ceremonies.
The video features Karen Meredith, a Gold Star mother whose son is buried at Arlington, who voiced her outrage at the planned observation deck, which would allow tourists to look out over the cemetery and the capital. "We don't need tourists overlooking funerals. I'm just appalled," Meredith said. "We need everybody to speak out about this."
The campaign, backed by the advocacy group Home of the Brave, comes as the administration prepares to break ground on the arch. The National Park Service recently approved the proposed Memorial Circle location, even after its own review found the monument would have "adverse effects" on several historic sites and the capital's skyline. The decision has drawn legal challenges, including an emergency court order sought by Vietnam War veterans to block construction.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on social media Thursday that excavation work would begin within two weeks, saying, "We are pleased to announce that after a very long wait (over 125 years!), we are preparing to start, over the next two-week period, the excavation work necessary for the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck."
Eaton is urging veterans to contact their lawmakers and the National Capital Planning Commission to voice opposition before construction begins. The arch has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over Trump's use of military symbols and national monuments, with critics arguing it is a self-aggrandizing vanity project that disrespects the fallen. Critics have also accused the administration of exploiting veterans issues for political gain.
The project has also drawn scrutiny from Republican strategists who worry about its political fallout. Some GOP insiders warn that the spending priorities embodied by the arch could hurt the party's midterm prospects, as voters question the allocation of federal funds. Meanwhile, former GOP congressman Charlie Dent has argued that such monument-focused messaging undermines the party's broader appeal.
As the legal battles proceed and the administration pushes forward, the arch remains a symbol of the deep divisions over how to honor America's military heritage in the nation's capital.
