Joe Kennedy III has made his stance clear regarding the proposed renaming of the Kennedy Center, amidst chatter about honoring former President Trump.
Key Points to Consider
- The Kennedy Center’s name can’t be changed to the “Trump Kennedy Center” due to federal regulations, as stated by Joe Kennedy III.
- This came in reaction to a bold claim made by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about a unanimous decision from the Kennedy Center board.
- Joe’s comments align with earlier ones shared by his second cousin Jack Schlossberg, who also emphasized the legal standing against renaming.
Another member of the Kennedy family has stepped into the conversation about potential modifications to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, valued as a significant tribute to President John F. Kennedy, after an announcement that stirred considerable backlash.
On December 18th, after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that the Kennedy Center board aimed to honor President Trump with a renaming, Joe Kennedy III addressed the matter directly through his post on X.
He stated, “The Kennedy Center serves as a living tribute to a dedicated president and is designated as such by federal law. Renaming it is as infeasible as naming the Lincoln Memorial under just any circumstances.”
This statement by Joe, who is 45 and a grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, plays off previous comments from his cousin Jack Schlossberg, known as the sole grandson of JFK. Schlossberg made a point during the summer that renaming the institution after President Trump would breach federal statutes outlining the management conditions of the arts venue.
Jack urged his followers on social networks by sharing an excerpt from a federal law stating: “As of December 2, 1983, no new memorials or recognition in memorial form shall be placed in public domains of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.” He captioned his post insistently, stating, “Just read it clearly — renaming isn’t allowed.”
Following the initial announcement from Leavitt, Schlossberg reignited the discussion on social media, disputing claims regarding a unanimous board decision.
“I witnessed firsthand that the meeting attendees were muted and their votes were far from unanimous,” he posted on X.
In related remarks on social media, he also hinted at his own congressional campaign, linking it to backlash against Trump, asserting that the platform represents resistance against supposed injustices.
Schlossberg went further on Instagram, urging supporters, “Help me get to Congress and voice your opinion confidently — together we can stand up!”
In addition, Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, who holds an honorary position on the Kennedy Center board, corroborated misinformation by the White House about the alleged overall support for the name change initiative.
Beatty, age 75, emphatically spoke out after Leavitt’s revelation, sharing her frustrations through a video appeal on X.
“I was part of the conversation, and despite my attempts to share my opinions and voice my objections, I was consistently muted,” Beatty expressed. “Each effort to engage was thwarted. Yet, the rumored conclusion touted a unanimous consent.”
She highlighted, “It’s vital we recognize this as yet another attempt to sidestep the law and overlook public opinion.”
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Trump has frequently articulated his ambitions to reshape the Kennedy Center, reverting to his role in leadership and emphasizing a preference for a board aligned with his political ideology.
In July, Republican Rep. Bob Onder introduced the “Make Entertainment Great Again Act,” attempting to rename the esteemed institution as the “Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts,” although the legislation was never put into effect.
Just a month later, while teasing the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors, Trump made remarks on Truth Social saying, “Great nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY Center, I meant, KENNEDY CENTER, Awards.”
