Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who spent the past year abandoning his family's Democratic legacy to secure a cabinet position in the Trump administration, reportedly expressed shock and disappointment Thursday after President Trump added his own name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, sources confirmed.
The performing arts venue, which has honored President John F. Kennedy since 1964, was renamed "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" following a unanimous vote by Trump's handpicked board, a move that left the Health and Human Services Secretary wondering how things could have possibly come to this.
"I gave Donald my endorsement, helped him win the election, and joined his administration to make health great again," said Kennedy Jr., who apparently believed trading his family's 60-year political reputation for a job would have no further consequences. "But putting his name on Uncle Jack's memorial? That seems excessive."
The rest of the Kennedy family, who issued statements calling RFK Jr.'s Trump endorsement "dangerous to our country" and "perilous," reportedly spent Thursday afternoon drinking heavily while pointing at him and laughing. Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s sister, said she would remove Trump's name from the building with a pickaxe in 2029, though sources note she may want to start with her brother's office door.
Caroline Kennedy called her cousin "a predator" who was unqualified for his position and accused him of encouraging family members into substance abuse, a statement RFK Jr. found deeply hurtful despite it being demonstrably true.
Political analysts noted the irony of Kennedy complaining about Trump co-opting his family name after he spent months using that same name to legitimize Trump's campaign. "Bobby's upset that Trump took the Kennedy brand after Bobby literally handed it to him on a silver platter," said one family friend who requested anonymity. "It's like watching someone sell their car and then get mad the buyer painted it orange."
Trump, who kicked Democrats off the Kennedy Center board and replaced them with loyalists including his chief of staff Susie Wiles, congratulated both himself and President Kennedy, who famously died in 1963 and therefore could not object.
