Kennedy family slams plan to add Trump’s name to Kennedy Center: 'TDS in full display'

WASHINGTON, DC: The Kennedy family members have hit out at the plan to add President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Thursday, December 18, that the Kennedy Center will be renamed to the Trump-Kennedy Center.

JFK’s niece ends up being 'speechless and enraged'

Karoline Leavitt took to X and 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," she added.

Following the announcement, former President John F Kennedy's niece, Maria Shriver, took to X and shared her disbelief. She wrote, "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."

Interestingly, the building was named for John F Kennedy, who was killed by a shooter's bullet in 1963. 

In a follow-up post, Shriver added, "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 amplified the arts, celebrated the arts, stood up for the arts and artists."

"It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not," she added.

JFK's grandnephew says 'Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president'

John F Kennedy’s grandnephew, former Rep Joe Kennedy III, wrote in a post on X, "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," he added.

Meanwhile, Jack Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy and a candidate for a New York congressional seat, took issue with the White House Press Secretary's assertion that the Kennedy Center board voted unanimously.

He wrote, "Microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous," adding, "Trump explicitly motivated to act by JACK FOR NEW YORK. Our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat."

Interestingly, the POTUS has made several references to renaming the center in recent months. During the opening of a peace institute in early December, that had also been renamed after him, Trump referred to it as the "Trump-Kennedy Center", and added, "Whoops, excuse me."