In a recent development, CNN anchor Jake Tapper has taken aim at President Donald Trump following his disparaging remarks about the Kennedy family, which came shortly after the passing of JFK's granddaughter, Tatiana Schlossberg.
According to the Daily Mail, Tapper expressed his disapproval on X, stating, "In the early afternoon, ET, the Kennedy family announced that JFK's granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg had died from cancer. A few hours later, President Trump re-posted some social media garbage attacking the Kennedy family."
Schlossberg, who was 35, succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia, a rapidly progressing cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow. Her passing was announced by the JFK Library Foundation on behalf of her family, including her husband, Dr. George Moran, and their children, Edwin and Josephine.
Trump's social media tirade did not specifically mention Tatiana but targeted the Kennedy family for their opposition to his decision to rename the historic Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The Trump administration had controversially rebranded the venue as the Trump-Kennedy Center, a move that incited anger. The center, which opened in 1971, was originally dedicated as a memorial to JFK after his assassination in 1963.
Trump shared posts on Truth Social from his supporters, criticizing the Kennedys for allegedly neglecting the center. One supporter claimed, "The Kennedy Family have LONG neglected the Kennedy Center, btw. They don't raise money for it. They never show up. And the only Kennedy who has been there recently is a member of Trump's cabinet."
Criticism of Trump's timing and remarks was not limited to Tapper. One user on X remarked, "Just when you think he can't get any lower. He is truly an evil man." Another user added, "The person occupying the White House is a mean, nasty, evil, rotten, disrespectful, thoughtless turd."
The controversy surrounding the renaming of the Kennedy Center intensified when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the center's Board of Directors had unanimously voted to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center. This decision was met with strong opposition from the Kennedy family and artists who boycotted performances at the venue.
Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board, disputed the White House's claim of a unanimous vote. She stated on X, "For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move." Beatty further asserted, "Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship."
Tatiana's brother, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress in New York, echoed Beatty's sentiments, claiming that "microphones were muted" during the board's conference call and that the vote was "NOT unanimous."
The renaming decision has sparked outrage among other members of the Kennedy family. Maria Shriver, JFK's niece, expressed her disbelief, stating, "Some things leave you speechless, and enraged, and in a state of disbelief. At times such as that, it's better to be quiet."
Joe Kennedy III, JFK's grandnephew and a former Massachusetts Congressman, emphasized the significance of the Kennedy Center, writing on X, "The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law." He further noted, "it can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says."
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the Kennedy family, as well as the broader cultural and political divide in the United States. The renaming of the Kennedy Center has become a flashpoint for debate over the preservation of historical legacies and the influence of political figures on cultural institutions.
As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the Kennedy Center's role as a symbol of American arts and culture.
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