Members of the Kennedy family have expressed outrage after the board of the Kennedy Center voted to rename the institution the “Trump Kennedy Center.” The decision, announced on Thursday, was made by a board now controlled by President Donald Trump. Critics argue the move disrespects the legacy of President John F. Kennedy, for whom the center was established as a memorial.
Tim Shriver, a nephew of JFK, described the renaming as an “insult,” comparing it to renaming the Lincoln or Jefferson memorials. Maria Shriver, another niece, called the decision “beyond comprehension” and “downright weird,” warning it could set a precedent for renaming other national landmarks. Kerry Kennedy accused the Trump administration of suppressing free expression and erasing history, stating that Trump’s values oppose those of President Kennedy.
Joe Kennedy III, a former congressman and grand-nephew of JFK, noted that the center’s name is enshrined in federal law, questioning the board’s authority to change it. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson and a congressional candidate, vowed to fight the decision. The board’s vote was disputed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, who claimed she was muted during the meeting to prevent her from raising objections.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a nephew of JFK and Trump’s secretary of health and human services, did not comment on the name change. The move has drawn comparisons to authoritarian acts, with some critics labeling it a narcissistic power grab. The Kennedy Center, originally named by a 1964 congressional statute, serves as a living memorial to the 35th president.
