Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sister, Kerry Kennedy, unloaded on the Trump administration on CNN Tuesday for their move to shut down the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — the latest installment of a lengthy saga that has seen the president and his allies assert control over the storied institution.
That move, ostensibly to prepare for renovations, came just an hour after a federal judge rejected the Kennedy Center board's latest attempt to sneak Trump's name onto the landmark.
"What's your reaction to the board voting to shut down the Kennedy Center altogether?" asked anchor Erin Burnett.
"Well, this is a tragedy," said Kennedy, noting that Americans "love" the Kennedy Center and all the performances there. "They see the corruption of this. There's not a financial issue here. President Trump has said they have $250 million ready to hand over tomorrow. He's just withholding it because he wants his name on the building. So this is like so many other things that Trump has touched. It's a bankruptcy because he adds his name to it."
"So, would you rather it stay closed or reopen with Trump's name on it?" asked Burnett.
Kennedy replied that this is a "false choice" and "something he's making up in his own head."
"The courts have to be complied with," she added. "The court said, you can't put your name on it. Then all of a sudden it's bankrupt. But all of a sudden, if his name is on it, it's got $256 million in the bank. So this is not an issue of bankruptcy. This is hostage-taking by the President of the United States."
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