“Of course, I understand it, but I have bigger fish to fry,” the health secretary told CBS News.

RFK Jr. finally weighs in on Trump renaming uncle’s Kennedy Center

"Of course, I understand it, but I have bigger fish to fry," the health secretary told CBS News.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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January 8, 2026 7:59 p.m. ET

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the White House in 2025. Credit:

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is finally sharing his thoughts on President Donald Trump rebranding the Kennedy Center, which was originally named for his late uncle, former President John F. Kennedy.

On Thursday, CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes asked the secretary of health and human services if he understood why other members of his prominent family were outraged by the decision to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center.**

"Of course, I understand it, but I have bigger fish to fry," RFK Jr. replied. "If we lose any children in this country to obesity, heart disease — 77 percent of our kids can't qualify for the military. Saving one life is more important to me than the name on a building."

When asked if he was involved in the name change or had recommended against it, RFK Jr. said no. And when pressed again if he took issue with the new moniker, he reiterated to CBS News he had other priorities, namely "making America healthy again."

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2014.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last month that the Kennedy Center board "unanimously" voted to change the name "because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building." The rechristening immediately drew the ire of the political dynasty, with the likes of Robert F. Kennedy's grandson Joe Kennedy III and JFK's niece Maria Shriver and grandson Jack Schlossberg all speaking out.

Shriver, a longtime journalist and former first lady of California, shared a lengthy post slamming the news on social media. "[JFK] brought the arts into the White House, and he and my Aunt Jackie amplified the arts, celebrated the arts, stood up for the arts and artists," she said. "It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not."

Shriver continued by suggesting that Trump will want to rename other iconic landmarks after himself next, such as the Lincoln or Jefferson memorials or JFK Airport.**

Kennedy family members blast Trump renaming of Kennedy Center: 'It's downright weird'

Christmas concert canceled over outrage at Donald Trump's Kennedy Center changes

"C'mon, my fellow Americans! Wake up! This is not dignified. This is not funny. This is way beneath the stature of the job. It's downright weird," she said. "It's obsessive in a weird way. Just when you think [someone] can't stoop any lower, down they go…"

In addition to the Kennedy family's objections, Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty contested Leavitt's assertion that the name change vote was unanimous. In her own social media post, Beatty wrote, "For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship."

This latest brouhaha comes after the Kennedy Center announced last February that President Trump himself would serve as the new chairman of the board, which was also met with controversy.**

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