On Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump directed his criticism towards the Kennedy Family, sharing a series of mocking posts not long after the family announced the passing of Tatiana Schlossberg.
Tatiana, who was Caroline Kennedy’s daughter and the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia that morning. Her family shared the sad news through social media.
“Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,” the announcement stated, signed by “George, Edwin and Josephine Moran, Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory.”
Despite the Kennedy family’s mourning, Trump showed no sympathy as he took to Truth Social to share several critical posts about them.
Tensions between Trump and the Kennedys had been escalating over the weeks, particularly after he renamed the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The center, originally named as a tribute to JFK following his 1963 assassination, became a point of contention, leading multiple Kennedy family members to speak out against the renaming.
“The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law,” expressed Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy. “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
It was this debate over the naming that Trump seemed to refer to on Tuesday, as he shared various critical comments from his supporters, which disparaged the family and praised him.
“The Kennedy Family have LONG neglected the Kennedy Center, btw,” one comment claimed. “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.”
Another remarked, “The Trumps have always been supporters of the arts. The Kennedys are supporters of the Kennedys.”
While Trump didn’t directly mention Tatiana in his posts, many found the timing inappropriate given the family’s recent loss.
Despite the criticisms, the Kennedys have not responded, with most of their social media activity on Tuesday focused on honoring their loved one.
Caroline Kennedy’s cousin, Maria Shriver, wrote: “I return to this space today to pay tribute to my sweet, beloved Tatiana, who left this earth today. I return to this space to pay tribute and honor her loving and supportive family, who came together and did everything they possibly could do to help her. I return to this space heartbroken because Tatiana loved life. She loved her life, and she fought like hell to try to save it.”
“I cannot make sense of this. I cannot make any sense of it at all. None. Zero,” she continued. “My heart has always been with my cousin Caroline ever since we were little kids. My entire being is with her now. What a rock she has been.”
“Those of us left behind will make sure Eddie and Josie know what a beautiful, courageous spirit their mother was and will always be. She takes after her extraordinary mother, Caroline. May we all hold Tatiana’s family in our collective embrace not just today, but in the days ahead, and may each of you who read this know how lucky you are to be alive right now. Please pause and honor your life. It truly is such a gift.”