> At a Glance
> – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he has “bigger fish to fry” than protesting the Kennedy Center’s new Trump-Kennedy name
> – The board quietly voted to add Trump’s name in December 2025, sparking outrage from Kennedy relatives
> – RFK Jr. admitted he neither supported nor opposed the change
> – Why it matters: The health secretary’s stance highlights a rare public split in America’s most famous political family
**Robert F. Kennedy Jr. broke weeks of silence on the Kennedy Center rebranding, telling CBS News that childhood obesity and military readiness dwarf any concerns about the building’s new Trump-Kennedy Center moniker.
The Family Divide
RFK Jr., 71, spoke hours after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt unveiled the renamed Donald Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 18, 2025. Leavitt claimed the board voted “unanimously,” but Rep. Joyce Beatty-an automatic board member-said she was repeatedly muted when she tried to object.
> “Of course, I understand it, but I have bigger fish to fry,” RFK Jr. told CBS News on Jan. 8. “Saving one life is more important to me than the name on a building.”
He added that he was not involved in the decision and had not advised against it, choosing instead to focus on “making America healthy again.”
Relatives Rebel
Other Kennedys have refused to stay quiet:
- Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s 32-year-old grandson, called the move illegal and tied it to his new congressional run: “I’m told Trump explicitly motivated to act by JACK FOR NEW YORK.”
- Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s sister, vowed to “grab a pickax and pull those letters off” after the 2028 election, adding she’d “apply for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job.”
- Joe Kennedy III and Maria Shriver also condemned the change, with Shriver calling it “downright weird” and “beyond comprehension.”
A Living Memorial, Altered
Congress dedicated the center as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, one year after his assassination. The latest signage now places Trump’s name first, directly above Kennedy’s.
> “Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!” Leavitt posted on X.
Key Takeaways
- RFK Jr. prioritizes public-health goals over family branding battles
- Board vote procedures are under scrutiny after Beatty’s muted-protest claim
- The renamed venue keeps JFK’s legacy but foregrounds Trump’s imprint
With his relatives vowing political and literal removal of Trump’s name, RFK Jr.’s muted response underscores a stark generational and strategic divide within the Kennedy dynasty.
