Kerry Kennedy, sister of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sharply criticized President Trump on Tuesday over the Kennedy Center board's decision to shut down the performing arts venue, describing the move as a "tragedy" and accusing the president of manipulating the institution for personal vanity.
Speaking with CNN's Erin Burnett, Kerry Kennedy, a prominent human rights advocate, said the American public sees through the administration's rationale. "The American people love the Kennedy Center," she said. "They love the arts. They understand what's going on, they see the corruption of this."
The board, now dominated by Trump appointees, voted to close the venue for renovations, citing what officials described as a "fiscal collapse." They also pointed to a recent water leak that damaged the grand foyer ceiling, arguing the building is "unsafe for continued occupancy."
But Kerry Kennedy dismissed the financial justification, asserting the center is not in dire straits. She noted that Trump himself has acknowledged the building has $250 million in congressionally appropriated funds available. "He's just withholding it because he wants his name on the building," she said. "So, this is like so many other things that Trump has touched. It's a bankruptcy because he adds his name to it."
The closure vote came just minutes after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper again blocked the Trump administration's effort to add the president's name to the building's exterior. Following that ruling, Trump warned that renovations would not proceed unless judges allow the name change.
Kerry Kennedy was not alone in her criticism. Her cousin, Maria Shriver, took to social media to express dismay, calling the president's stance "a sad state of affairs." She wrote on X, "Actually, how small minded, how narcissistic. Actually great men, devoted to public service and the public good do not act like this."
The dispute is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing battle between the Trump administration and the Kennedy family over the future of the cultural institution. Earlier this year, the president replaced several board members and installed loyalists, prompting a heated clash with actress and former board member Christine Baranski, who alleged Trump called her incompetent.
Trump has repeatedly tied the renovation to the naming issue, insisting that his name be displayed prominently. That stance has drawn comparisons to his business practices, with critics arguing he is using public assets for personal branding. The legal wrangling continues, with judges so far rejecting the administration's attempts to bypass the original naming agreement.
Meanwhile, the shutdown has broader implications for the arts community and the public, who rely on the center for performances and events. The board's decision has been met with outrage from artists and patrons alike, though supporters of the president argue the closure is a necessary step to address maintenance and financial issues.
As the legal battle unfolds, the Kennedy family's vocal opposition underscores the deep divisions over Trump's influence on the institution. For now, the center's doors are closed, and its future remains uncertain, caught between a president's demand for recognition and a family's defense of its legacy.
