Kennedy family members speak out on 'surprise' decision to rename famous Kennedy Center after Donald Trump

The Kennedy family have voiced their frustrations after an announcement that the famous Kennedy Center will be renamed after Donald Trump.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, also known as Kennedy Center, is located in Washington, D.C and stands as a tribute to the former president, who was assassinated in 1963.

The center’s board voted unanimously on December 18 to rename the building to include Donald Trump’s name, as well as Kennedy’s, so it will be officially known as the Trump-Kennedy Center.

However, family members of the late president have taken to social media to express their disdain for this move.

Former Democrat representative Joe Kennedy III called into question the legality of the move following a post on X by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who made the announcement.

In a post on Thursday, Leavitt wrote: “I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, 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, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building.

“Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation. Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!

"The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur.”

However, Joe Kennedy III swiftly dismissed this idea and argued that it may not be legally sound.

He wrote in response: “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.”

The daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and niece of John F. Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, also spoke out against this potential name change.

Kerry, who is the president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, argued that Trump and his administration have been ‘repressing’ artistic expression, one of the key missions of the center.

In her own X post, she wrote: “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.

“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.”

Maria Shriver, daughter of former President Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, also remarked that she was in ‘disbelief’ at the name change.

Trump said that he was ‘surprised and honored’ when he learned of the name change himself.

Speaking to reporters, Trump spoke well of the board members, whom he had hand-selected earlier this year.

He said: “The board is a very distinguished board, the most distinguished people in the country. We saved the building because it was in such bad shape, physically, financially, and in every other way, and now it’s very solid, very strong.”