Kerry Kennedy criticized President Donald Trump’s reported plan to demolish the Kennedy Center, telling TODAY she “doesn’t understand” the focus while many Americans struggle with basic expenses.
On the TODAY show, Kerry Kennedy said Trump’s attention to reshaping the cultural venue “makes no sense to me” and argued the Kennedy Center is a “living memorial” to her uncle that should be preserved rather than torn down.
The remarks followed weeks of controversy after photographs circulated of President Trump looking at a poster that appeared to suggest demolition as an option, and after the Kennedy Center’s board voted to close the building for renovations amid the dispute.
Kennedy’s TV interview echoed calls from the family and arts advocates; she had earlier urged people to protest at the venue when the naming and renovation fight escalated. The dispute involves congressional funding approved for renovations and a separate legal fight over whether the centre can be renamed without Congress’s approval.
The BBC reported that U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued an order requiring 30 days’ notice before any demolition could occur, and that protesters gathered at the site to condemn the threats.
For background on Kerry Kennedy’s advocacy work and her role in the family’s public response, see an earlier profile of her and coverage of the centre’s legal and operational risks.
Related reading: Kerry Kennedy, RFK’s daughter, leads Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Kennedy Center could be demolished if planned renovations stall, DOJ says.
Sources
- BBC — video interview reporting Kerry Kennedy’s comments and a judge’s order requiring 30 days’ notice before any demolition.
- Yahoo News — summary of Kerry Kennedy’s TODAY appearance and context on the naming, funding and closure dispute.
