The Kennedy family is in mourning following the death of author and journalist Tatiana Schlossberg at the age of 35, just weeks after she revealed a cancer diagnosis. In her final public comments, she delivered a stinging critique of her cousin, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr, branding him an 'embarrassment' to the family.
A Family Divided on Health Policy
Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former US President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, passed away on Tuesday. The sad news was confirmed by the JFK Library Foundation in an Instagram post signed by her husband, George Moran, their two children, and her immediate family.
Her death comes after she disclosed a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia in a powerful essay for The New Yorker last month. She revealed she had been diagnosed after welcoming her daughter in 2024.
Scathing Criticism from a Hospital Bed
In that same essay, Schlossberg took direct aim at the health policies of her relative, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr, 71, was appointed to his cabinet role by President Donald Trump following the 2024 election. Schlossberg, who was his first cousin once removed, wrote that she watched from her hospital bed as he was confirmed for the position 'despite never having worked in medicine, public health, or the government'.
She highlighted specific actions he took that she found particularly damaging, including:
- Cutting nearly half a billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccine technology, which has potential applications in cancer treatment.
- Slashing billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the world's leading sponsor of medical research.
- Threatening to remove the expert panel responsible for recommending preventive cancer screenings.
A Legacy of Tragedy and Environmental Advocacy
In her writing, Schlossberg poignantly acknowledged the history of tragedy within the Kennedy dynasty, expressing guilt over the pain her illness would cause her mother, Caroline Kennedy – the only surviving child of JFK and Jackie. 'Now I have added a new tragedy to her life, to our family’s life, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it,' she wrote.
Beyond her family commentary, Tatiana Schlossberg was an accomplished writer in her own right. She was the author of the non-fiction book 'Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have'. She is survived by her husband and their two young children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
The news of her death prompted an outpouring of condolences on social media, with many noting the Kennedy family's enduring heartache and paying tribute to her impactful words.
