<div id="readability-page-1"><div>Thursday’s decision by theKennedy Center Board of Trustees to rename the Washington, D.C., performing arts center the Trump-Kennedy Center hit one particular demographic group hard: members of former President John F. Kennedy’s family.White House press secretary Karoline Leavittannounced the name change on social media, claiming that “some of the most successful people from all parts of the world have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center.”Politics: New ‘Melania’ Trailer Has People Wondering If It’s An ‘AI Parody’The reason for the sudden Donald Trump tribute?According to Leavitt, it’s “because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building.”The Kennedy Center was named in honor of President Kennedy in 1964, months after his November 1963 assassination. Since the start of his second term, Trump has attempted to remake the cultural institution in his own image, installing his loyalists on the board of trustees and himself as board chair.Naturally, members of the Kennedy family didn’t like the obvious overture to Trump’s notorious ego one bit.Kennedy’s niece, former TV journalist Maria Shriver,admitted she was having a hard time controlling her temper over the news of the center’s new name.<div><blockquote>Some things leave you speechless, and enraged, and in a state of disbelief. At times such as that, it’s better to be quiet. For how long, I can’t say. TDS in full display. https://t.co/LrzPzj5qOs— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div>In a follow-up, she tried to rally her fellow Americans to object to the name change.“It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not,” Shriver wrote. “Next thing perhaps he will want to rename JFK Airport, rename the Lincoln Memorial, the Trump Lincoln Memorial. The Trump Jefferson Memorial. The Trump Smithsonian. The list goes on.”“C’mon, my fellow Americans! Wake up!” she warned. “This is not dignified. This is not funny. This is way beneath the stature of the job. It’s downright weird. It’s obsessive in a weird way. Just when you think somone can’t stoop any lower, down they go…”<div><blockquote>The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F Kennedy. It was named in his honor. He was a man who was interested in the arts, interested in culture, interested in education, language, history. He brought the arts into the White House, and he and my Aunt Jackie… pic.twitter.com/wcGjTp2uqa— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div>Shriver’s brother, disability rights activist and film producer Timothy Shriver, suggested that the board members who voted on the name change might not be aware that “the Kennedy Center is THE memorial to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy,” and, like his sister, likened the change to renaming the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.<div><blockquote>Perhaps the board isn’t aware that the Kennedy Center is 𝗧𝗛𝗘 memorial to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Would they rename the Lincoln memorial? The Jefferson? That would be an insult to great presidents. This too is an insult to a great president.… pic.twitter.com/Wtu00hIh0X— timshriver (@TimShriver) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div>President Kennedy’s grandnephew and former Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) objected to the notion that the performing arts center’s name can even be formally changed.“The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law,” he wrote on X. “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”<div><blockquote>The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says. https://t.co/VpZhNvx7So— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div>Kennedy’s grandson and Democratic congressional candidate Jack Schlossberg took a different approach to the news.After Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty claimed on social media that she was muted on the call and “not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move,” he suggested the name change was all because of his congressional campaign.“I’m told Trump explicitly motivated to act by JACK FOR NEW YORK,” he said. “Our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat.”<div><blockquote><div>Microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous I’m told Trump explicitly motivated to act by JACK FOR NEW YORK Our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat.</div>— Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div>But it should come as no surprise that there’s one prominent Kennedy who has yet to address the news.As of late Thursday afternoon, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hadn’t remarked on the name change.However, his sister Kerry Kennedy went after her brother’s boss in a two-part tweet that culminated with her declaring that “President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer,” while “President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy’s.”<div><blockquote>(1/2) President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists, and comedians, and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our nation better and more just.— Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div><div><blockquote>(2/2) President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer. President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy's.https://t.co/oQREUpbZ8F— Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div><h3>Political Updates</h3><ul><li>New Disturbing Epstein Images Released By House Dems</li><li>Lawrence O'Donnell Says Trump Was 'Angry' At 1 Irrefutable Thing In Address To Nation</li><li>AOC Answers JD Vance 2028 Matchup Question With 4 Stomping Words</li></ul>Read the original on HuffPost</div></div>

The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees decided to rename the Washington, D.C. performing arts center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, sparking strong opposition from JFK's family. Maria Shriver, Joe Kennedy III, and Jack Schlossberg criticized the move, viewing it as an insult to President Kennedy's legacy. The name change was attributed to Trump's efforts in saving the building, but family members argue it undermines the center's memorial status to JFK.

JFK’s Family Bashes Kennedy Center Name Change