Kennedy family member fires back after Trump renames Kennedy Center after himself

It will be known as the 'Trump-Kennedy Center'

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, widely known as the Kennedy Centre, famously pays tribute to the former president.

However, now Trump has controversially revealed that it will be known as the 'Trump-Kennedy Center'.

The centre's board voted unanimously on December 18 to rename the building, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explaining on social media that the decision was made due to 'the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building'.

Leavitt added, continued: "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.”

Since the announcement, many Kennedy family members have spoken out against the move, including the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and niece of John F. Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy.

Coincidentally, Kerry is also the sister of Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kerry shared a photo of the building’s new exterior on X, which now reads: "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."

In her post, Kerry vowed she would be using a 'pickaxe' to pull Trump's name off as soon as his term in office is over.

Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!! pic.twitter.com/ZLPhd7fU31

— Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) December 19, 2025

She wrote: "Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickaxe and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!"

Kerry previously claimed that Trump and his administration were ‘repressing’ artistic expression, a central mission of the centre.

"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," she wrote on social media.

"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."