President Donald Trump is facing widespread criticism after sharing posts attacking the Kennedy family at a moment when they were mourning a deeply personal loss.
Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, died on Tuesday at the age of 35. She was a journalist and author who revealed in a November 2025 essay for The New Yorker that she had terminal cancer. Schlossberg, the daughter of former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and designer Edwin Schlossberg, disclosed that doctors had given her less than a year to live after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer discovered shortly after the birth of her daughter in May 2024. According to her essay, her illness involved an uncommon genetic mutation found in fewer than 2 percent of AML cases.
On the same evening news of her death became public, Trump used his Truth Social account to repost screenshots from X that criticized the Kennedy family and the Kennedy Center. The posts were shared amid controversy surrounding plans to rename the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” a move that has already sparked backlash in cultural and political circles.
Among the reposted messages were claims that the Kennedy Center was “a crumbling monument to liberal neglect,” that Trump had “revived” the institution, and that the only politically relevant Kennedy today is Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Another post accused the broader Kennedy family of abandoning American interests and opposing Trump’s presidency.
The timing of the posts drew sharp reactions across social media and cable news. CNN anchor Jake Tapper publicly criticized the president, noting that the attacks came just hours after the family announced Schlossberg’s death, calling the reposts “social media garbage.” Several high-profile political accounts echoed the sentiment, accusing Trump of insensitivity and cruelty during a period of mourning.
Progressive and Democratic-aligned commentators described the posts as inappropriate and vindictive, arguing that political disputes should be set aside in the face of personal tragedy. Some critics went further, saying the episode reflected a broader pattern of behavior that prioritizes online confrontation over basic empathy.
Earlier this month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Kennedy Center’s board had unanimously approved the renaming plan, though at least one board member publicly disputed that claim. The proposal has already led to protests within the arts community, with some musicians canceling performances at the historic venue, which was established in honor of President Kennedy following his assassination in 1963.
In a family statement released after her death, Schlossberg’s relatives described her as a beloved daughter, sister, wife, and mother, saying she would “always be in our hearts.” Her cousin Maria Shriver also paid tribute, highlighting Schlossberg’s love of life and the determination she showed while battling cancer.
As debate continues over the Kennedy Center’s future and Trump’s relationship with the Kennedy legacy, many observers say the incident underscores how deeply polarized American politics has become—extending even into moments of national and personal grief.
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