Kennedy family members speak out on ‘surprise’ decision to rename famous Kennedy Center after Donald Trump
The Kennedy family has publicly condemned a decision to rename Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The center’s board voted unanimously on December 18th to change the name to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The board’s decision, announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, credits former President Donald Trump with saving the institution. Leavitt stated Trump accomplished “unbelievable work” in financially and physically rescuing the building over the past year.
Family members of the late President Kennedy strongly oppose the move. Joe Kennedy III, a former Democratic representative, immediately questioned its legality on social media. He argued the center is a federally designated living memorial that cannot be renamed, comparing it to the Lincoln Memorial.
Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center and niece of JFK, also voiced opposition. She contended that Trump’s administration has repressed artistic expression, which contradicts the center’s core mission and President Kennedy’s values.
Maria Shriver, another member of the Kennedy family, expressed her “disbelief” at the proposed name change. The family’s unified response highlights their view that Trump’s legacy is incompatible with Kennedy’s.
In response to the news, Donald Trump told reporters he was “surprised and honored.” He praised the board, which he selected, for their role in strengthening the center.
The controversy centers on attaching Trump’s name to a monument built to honor a political rival. The Kennedy family maintains the change disrespects the memorial’s purpose and the values President Kennedy represented.
