The decision to rename Washington's iconic Kennedy Center to include former President Donald Trump has sparked a deeply personal and fiery response from within the Kennedy family itself.
A Personal Vow to Reverse the Change
Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and niece of President John F. Kennedy, has publicly vowed to personally remove Trump's name from the building's facade once he is out of office. The name change was announced on Thursday, December 18, 2025, and Kennedy's reaction was swift and visceral.
In a social media post on Friday, December 19, 2025, Kennedy made a dramatic pledge. "Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building," she wrote. She added that she would need help holding the ladder and humorously noted she was applying for a carpenter's card to ensure it would be "a union job."
Clashing Values and a Family Legacy
Kennedy's threat followed a series of tweets from the previous day where she laid out her fundamental opposition to the renaming. She argued that the move dishonors the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
Kerry Kennedy accused the Trump administration of repressing free expression and targeting artists and journalists. She contrasted this with what she described as her uncle's core values: "justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer." Kennedy stated unequivocally that, in her view, Donald Trump "stands in opposition to these values" and therefore his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy's.
Family Reaction and Unanswered Questions
Notably, Kerry Kennedy's brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, had not publicly commented on the controversial name change as of Friday afternoon.
The episode highlights the intense political and cultural divisions that the renaming of a major national cultural institution can provoke. Kerry Kennedy's promise sets a dramatic deadline for potential action, framing the issue not just as a political disagreement, but as a personal mission to defend her family's heritage.
