Vietnam War veterans have filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration to stop the construction of an arch outside Washington, D.C. The president intends to build a 250-foot-tall arch. It will be similar to the Arc de Triomphe. It would welcome people to the capital as they pass Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery. Its final design has been cleared by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, but it has not received congressional approval.
Donald Trump sued by Vietnam veterans over arch construction
A group of Vietnam War veterans, who served the US government, is suing the Trump administration over the construction of the arch. Reportedly, it is between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans believe would block the view of these two sites disrespectfully. The lawsuit against Donald Trump is led by Shaun Byrnes. He served two tours in Vietnam, along with a group of other veterans.
Byrnes clarified that their lawsuit is not politically motivated. It doesn’t aim to support a specific party but is based on concerns regarding the arch construction itself. Also, he said that their motive is inspired by their loyalty towards the country. It could be measured in a lot of ways. “It’s more about the duty I feel towards my colleagues and friends who did not come home to stand up against this project, regardless of who’s in charge. I think it’s just disrespectful to those that I served with who didn’t come back, and then, of course, to all those who are lying in Arlington National Cemetery,” he added.
A retired diplomat, Jon Gundersen, also shared his views on dictatorship. Furthermore, he argued that such monuments are often built without regard for the rule of law. “We know how authoritarian dictatorships work. There’s no rule of law, there’s no consent of the governed, and there are monuments for the leaders there,” he explained (via PEOPLE).
