Kerry Kennedy is president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, a human rights lawyer and activist, and a daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and a niece of President John F. Kennedy.
Case
After a federal judge barred two board-approved recognitions of him, Donald Trump spoke of the Kennedy Center's renovation and closure in terms of recognition for his administration. The White House and Rep. Joyce Beatty's lawyers describe what he meant differently.
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.”
The case's fixed reference point is President Trump's stated position that the Kennedy Center's closure and renovation depend on recognition for his administration, as expressed in his 2026-09-15 Truth Social post. Asked whether she would rather the center stay closed or reopen with Trump's name on it, Kennedy says the court barred his name, the center is then called bankrupt but would have money 'if his name is on it', and concludes 'This is hostage-taking by the president of the United States', an express rejection of tying the center's fate to his name. The closest competing label is challenges_characterization, because she also disputes the bankruptcy premise ('this is not an issue of bankruptcy'). That loses because she goes on to condemn the linkage itself rather than only disputing how the situation is described.
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
