WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several members of the Kennedy family publicly denounced a plan backed by President Donald Trump to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include his surname, calling the proposal unlawful, politically motivated, and deeply disrespectful to the late president’s legacy.
The backlash followed an announcement by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt that the newly reconstituted Kennedy Center board — largely appointed by Trump earlier this year — voted to rename the venue the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” Democrats quickly vowed to block the move, noting that the center was named by federal law and cannot be renamed without congressional approval.
Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, disputed claims that the board vote was unanimous, saying microphones were muted during the meeting. Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III said the Kennedy Center is a living memorial that cannot be altered any more than the Lincoln Memorial. Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, accused the Trump administration of suppressing free expression and targeting artists, journalists, and critics.
Maria Shriver, a journalist and Kennedy family member, called the proposal “undignified” and “downright weird,” expressing disbelief that a sitting president would seek to attach his name to a national cultural institution honoring another president.
The White House declined further comment beyond Leavitt’s statement. Legal experts note that any name change would almost certainly face court challenges and congressional resistance.
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