Several members of the Kennedy family are openly criticizing President Donald Trump following the addition of his name to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., a move that has sparked renewed political and cultural controversy.
The dispute began after the Kennedy Center’s board voted to add President Trump’s name to the building’s exterior. The updated signage now reads: “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The change was approved Thursday and installed Friday.
Kerry Kennedy, daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, reacted strongly on social media. In a post on X, she said that once President Trump is no longer in office, she plans to remove his name from the building herself, joking about using tools and asking supporters if they would help.
Her comments quickly drew attention online, with critics accusing her of encouraging disrespect toward a national institution, while supporters praised her for speaking out.
Earlier the same day, Kennedy criticized the naming decision, arguing that President Trump’s record conflicts with the legacy of her uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. She wrote that JFK stood for justice, peace, and compassion, and claimed that Trump does not represent those same principles.
Other Kennedy family members joined the backlash.
Maria Shriver, President Kennedy’s niece and former first lady of California, called the decision inappropriate and undignified. In a separate post, she sarcastically suggested that other American landmarks could be renamed next, expressing concern about what she described as political overreach.
Former Congressman Joe Kennedy III also weighed in, questioning whether the name change is even legal. He argued that the Kennedy Center is a federally designated memorial to President Kennedy and suggested that it cannot be renamed by a board vote alone.
Those claims were pushed back by the Kennedy Center’s interim president, Richard Grenell. He stated that the board’s decision does not alter the congressional memorial itself, but rather reflects an administrative naming addition approved by the governing body.
The White House confirmed the update, as did Kennedy Center officials. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Kennedy Center vice president of public relations Roma Daravi said the process followed proper procedures.
President Trump currently serves as chairman of the Kennedy Center’s board and appointed several members earlier this year. He praised the board following the vote, calling its members “some of the most distinguished people in the country.”
Trump has also defended his leadership role, saying the Kennedy Center had been struggling financially and structurally before his involvement and is now on solid footing.
Earlier this month, while hosting the Kennedy Center Honors, the president briefly joked about the new name, referring to it as the “Trump Kennedy Center” before smiling and saying, “Oops.”
The controversy underscores ongoing political divisions over America’s cultural institutions, with critics objecting to Trump’s association with the historic venue and supporters pointing to his official role and the board’s legal authority.