Kerry Kennedy

Kerry Kennedy

Role at the time: President of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center and author of a biography of her mother, Ethel Kennedy, interviewed on CNN's The Amanpour Hour

Statement summary

On CNN's The Amanpour Hour, Kerry Kennedy compared putting Trump's name on the Kennedy Center to renaming the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial for him. She said the argument that there is no money for the center is "just not true" because Congress passed $246 million to restore it, and told Trump to focus on Americans' costs rather than the center.

“this is the memorial created by the United States Congress to a slain president. So, putting Trump's name on it would be like renaming the Washington Monument the Trump Washington Monument or the Trump Lincoln Memorial or the Trump Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. ... And their argument is they're not -- there is not money for it. But in the Big Beautiful Bill, they -- the Congress passed $246 million in order to restore the Kennedy Center. So that's just not true. ... So President Trump, do your job. Focus on the people's pain and the work that you're supposed to do in the -- in the Oval Office and not on the Kennedy Center. That's not your job.”

Kerry Kennedy

Role at the time: President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and niece of President John F. Kennedy

Statement summary

In a Guardian interview, Kerry Kennedy called President Trump a “petty tyrant” and said that losing the Kennedy Center would harm the country and give tyrants permission to shut down arts centers and silence critical voices.

“He is hurting our country and he’s giving permission to tyrants everywhere to shut down arts centres and silence critical voices.”

Kerry Kennedy

Role at the time: Sister of Secretary Kennedy and president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, in an interview on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront

Statement summary

Asked about her brother's clash with Shapiro over Pennsylvania's measles deaths, Kerry Kennedy says his messaging on vaccine skepticism has contributed to people not taking their vaccines.

“Yeah, I think absolutely, his messaging on vaccine skepticism has 100% contributed to people not taking their vaccines.”

Kerry Kennedy

Role at the time: President of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center and niece of President John F. Kennedy, as a guest in an interview on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront

Statement summary

In an interview on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront on September 15, 2026, Kerry Kennedy was asked whether she would rather the Kennedy Center stay closed or reopen with Trump's name on it. She said the court had barred his name, that the center was then described as bankrupt but would have money 'if his name is on it', that 'this is not an issue of bankruptcy', and that 'This is hostage-taking by the president of the United States'.

“The court said you can't put your name on it. Then, all of a sudden, it's bankrupt, but all of a sudden, if his name is on it, it's got $256 million in the bank. So, this is not an issue of bankruptcy. This is hostage-taking by the president of the United States.”