Rory Kennedy Questions What Trump Is 'Hiding' as Kennedy Center Closure Fight Escalates
Key Takeaways
- •Rory Kennedy, the niece of former President John F. Kennedy, called President Trump's moves on the Kennedy Center a clear example of overstepping and urged Congress to put any renaming to a vote.
- •A federal judge ruled last year that Trump's attempt to place his name on the center's facade was illegal and ordered it removed.
- •Trump has since announced plans for a new inscription crediting him with restoring the building, which he says requires closing the center for two years.
- •Kennedy argues that the law clearly prohibits altering the Kennedy Center's name or exterior without congressional approval.
- •Kennedy said she is confident the courts and Congress will ultimately block the president, but she criticized the dispute as consuming significant resources and time.
Rory Kennedy, the niece of former President John F. Kennedy, is pressing new questions about what President Donald Trump may be "hiding" as he moves to close, renovate, and potentially demolish the Kennedy Center.
"This is a clear example of overstepping," Kennedy said in an interview with the Daily Beast's Obsessed podcast. "So my hope is that Congress pushes back and does its job, which is, if they want to rename the Kennedy Center, then put it to a vote."
The president's earlier attempt to place his name on the facade of the famed performing arts center failed last year, when a federal judge ruled the change illegal and ordered its removal. Trump has since announced plans for a new inscription crediting him with restoring the building, which he says must now close for two years, the Daily Beast reported. The dispute has put fresh attention on who controls the landmark's name, exterior and future use, with Kennedy arguing those decisions were intentionally left to lawmakers rather than the White House.
"What are they hiding back there?" Kennedy asked of the possible closure, days after the Trump administration threatened to demolish the center if the president does not get his way.
Speaking to the Daily Beast on Thursday, Kennedy argued that Trump's moves violate a law stating "very clearly" that the institution's name and exterior cannot be altered without congressional approval.
"To me, it's an affront to the Kennedy Center and to the arts," she said. "My uncle, John F. Kennedy—this was something that Congress put in his name as a memorial, not unlike the Lincoln Memorial, but wanted it to be an active memorial. It was really meant to celebrate and to recognize the love in this country for this pretty spectacular fallen president."
Kennedy described Trump's decision to act without lawmakers' approval as "unsettling" and "upsetting," saying it demonstrated a complete disregard for constitutional checks and balances.
While she expressed confidence that the courts and Congress would ultimately block the president, Kennedy criticized the resources being consumed by the fight.
"I'm confident that the system will play itself out the way it's supposed to," she said on the podcast, "but I think it's consuming a lot of resources and time that feels ill-spent."
