Politics
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February 14, 2025
Is the Kennedy legacy synonymous with liberal values or oligarchical interests?
With Elon Musk positioned as the unofficial leader, even participating in high-profile events with foreign dignitaries like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Donald Trump, the nominal president, finds himself with ample free time. Understandably, as a second-term president, Trump is eager to solidify his legacy. Yet, in typical real estate fashion, Trump has chosen to enhance an existing brand rather than create one from the ground up, opting to co-opt the storied Kennedy name.
In recent weeks, Trump has taken deliberate steps to assimilate the Kennedy legacy into his political narrative. Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received Senate confirmation as health secretary following a heavily partisan vote, where all Democrats opposed the nomination except for Mitch McConnell, the only Republican who did. The stark partisan division is notable, as RFK Jr. represents the most prominent political figure from a family known for its Democratic roots—being the son of the late senator Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy and senator Edward Kennedy. Ironically, until last year, RFK Jr. identified as an anti-Trump Democrat.
An additional move saw Trump becoming the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, an institution designed to honor JFK’s legacy, amid a broader partisan reshuffle. He has ousted Democrats from the previously bipartisan board, replacing them with loyalists. As reported by The New York Times,
Previously, the board was approximately evenly divided between Biden and Trump appointees; it now consists solely of Trump appointees, featuring numerous Trump allies, including his chief of staff, Susie Wiles; long-time aide Dan Scavino; and Usha Vance, spouse of Vice President JD Vance.
On January 30, Trump enacted an executive order mandating the declassification of all remaining documents concerning the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Collectively, these actions represent a strategic maneuver by Trump to assume the Kennedy mantle. It is, of course, no surprise that Trump, drawn to ostentation and superficiality, seeks to capture the enduring allure of the Kennedy legacy. The tragic assassinations of JFK and RFK have enshrined their memories in the minds of many Americans, transcending party lines. JFK consistently ranks at the top of modern presidential approval ratings, with a remarkable 90 percent favorability rating—21 points ahead of his closest competitor, Ronald Reagan.
Politicians from all parties have long sought to link themselves to the Kennedy legacy. Figures like Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have proudly displayed photos highlighting their youthful interactions with JFK. Similarly, right-wing Republicans frequently assert that Kennedy’s tax cuts were precursors to the supply-side economics championed by Ronald Reagan, or that JFK’s strong stance against communism laid the groundwork for modern neoconservativism.
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Continually, the remaining Kennedy family members predominantly uphold liberal Democratic values and have pushed back against Trump’s appropriation of their family’s legacy. They have criticized RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump and his involvement in transforming the Kennedy Center into a partisan entity.
However, the extent to which the Kennedy family can rightfully claim ownership of the Kennedy legacy is debatable, given its complexity and profound impact on American historical narrative. One profound factor enabling Trump’s pursuit of the Kennedy brand is the decline of the family’s influence following Edward Kennedy’s death in 2009. Although Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, JFK’s daughter, served as ambassador to Japan under Obama’s administration and was appointed ambassador to Australia under Biden, the family’s political relevancy has diminished considerably. The year 2020 marked a shocking defeat for Joseph Kennedy III, JFK’s grandson, in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary. Once, a Kennedy losing in Massachusetts would have been inconceivable; clearly, the family has lost much of its political vigor.
The Kennedy name has shifted from electoral significance to a more mythological status, paving the way for RFK Jr.’s endeavors and Trump’s cynical brand appropriation.
In truth, ‘Kennedyism’ lacks a coherent political identity. Representing American politics for over a century, prominent Kennedy family members have expressed contradictory views throughout their history. Joseph Kennedy, the family patriarch, was a conservative Democrat opposing the New Deal and identified with America First nationalism—principally akin to Trumpism. JFK, by contrast, was a Cold War liberal, presenting a spectrum for political interpretation: Do we associate him with the provocations of the Bay of Pigs or the diplomatic restraint he advocated? Is his legacy marked by the Civil Rights Act, enacted posthumously in his name, or his wiretaps on Dr. King? RFK and Edward Kennedy later opposed the Vietnam War—a conflict escalated by their elder brother. Which elements of this family legacy truly define them?
The troubling reality of Trump’s appropriation is that he can credibly claim association with components of JFK’s legacy. JFK was a pioneer in leveraging wealth and fame for political gain. He portrayed himself as a political outsider, resistant to elite control and bureaucratic constraints of the New Deal—a profile that figures like Trump can easily adapt to their own narratives.
The historian Garry Wills, in his work The Kennedy Imprisonment (1982), highlights that JFK’s approach to politics was rooted in personal charisma rather than ideology, employing a loyal team for execution. This resemblance with Trump is compelling. Wills describes Kennedy’s governance approach:
Kennedy determined that when direct confrontation failed, sidestepping established protocols became necessary—relying on executive orders instead of legislation, granting broader authority to team members, and isolating the less responsive segments of government. The less cooperative agencies were meant to wither while a dedicated few undertook an expanding range of responsibilities…. More crucial is the manner in which he perceived his own administration as a dynamic “outsider” collective challenging the entrenched political apparatus. He had assembled a hit-and-run crew to navigate resistance, operate outside established processes, forgo formal meetings, and dismantle rigid structures. Democracies often necessitate assertive (and sometimes clandestine) leadership by an enlightened few against a backdrop of bureaucratic inertia.
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This description could serve as a framework for Elon Musk’s current challenges to the federal administrative structure.
It’s important to clarify that JFK and Trump are not identical. Rather, the mixed legacy of the Kennedys provides no substantial foundation for opposing Trumpism. While we can recognize the positive contributions made by JFK and the other Kennedys, such as advancing welfare initiatives and civil rights, those merits are worthwhile independently, not merely because they were championed by one affluent family.
If the Kennedy name retains its significance, it serves primarily as an admonition. The Kennedys epitomize the peril of elite liberation and the protection conferred upon prosperous individuals by an accommodating political environment and a phalanx of loyalists. Trump embodies some of the adverse characteristics associated with the Kennedy legacy and underscores that America’s dilemmas extend beyond the partisan failings of any single president.
The Kennedy name ultimately reflects oligarchy, the root issue at the heart of Trumpism.
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