Decoding Trump's strange obsession with the Kennedys
On the afternoon of November 22, 1963, in Pittsburgh, my mother, who was about two months pregnant with me, was washing the windows of our house when our neighbor Peg poked her head out of her window across the lawn and yelled to my mom that Kennedy had been shot. I heard that story numerous times throughout my life.
Donald Trump, 17 at the time, like countless Americans, was probably profoundly affected by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Although it's hard to imagine him being sympathetic.
The tragic event not only marked a pivotal moment in American history but may very likely have ignited a lasting fascination within Trump for the Kennedy legacy — a fascination that has manifested in various actions throughout his political career.
For those growing up in the 1960s, the Kennedys represented a blend of political power, celebrity, and American royalty. This early exposure may have cultivated a lifelong intrigue, influencing Trump's later actions and decisions related to the family and their legacy.
From releasing JFK assassination files to nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health secretary, engaging with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, firing staff at the JFK Presidential Library, and drawing parallels between Melania Trump and Jackie Onassis, Trump's engagement with the Kennedy legacy is multifaceted.
Whether driven by admiration, political strategy, or a desire to associate with the enduring mystique of the Kennedy name, Trump's actions reflect a complex relationship with one of America's most iconic families. In other words, what is at the root of Trump's obsession with the Kennedys?
In his first term, Trump made headlines by authorizing the release of thousands of documents related to the JFK assassination. This move was ostensibly part of a broader effort to promote transparency and address long-standing public interest in the events surrounding Kennedy's death. The initial release, however, left some documents still classified.
Then on Tuesday, Trump ordered the declassification of an additional 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files. The documents primarily pertain to the Warren Commission's 1964 investigation, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Despite the massive disclosure, officials do not anticipate any new significant revelations from these files.
This second release was touted by the administration as ushering in a "new era of maximum transparency." But I'm not buying that. Trump, like anyone else from that period, has grappled with the questions of who, how, and why around the Kennedy assassination. Considering Trump's narcissism, he's probably authorized the release in a self-serving 'I know more than you do' justification and 'I have more power than my predecessors, so as king, I can share that information with you.' Trump knows more than you do, and that includes information about the Kennedys.
If the Trump administration really believed in transparency, we'd know more about what Elon Musk is up to as well as who was really on that plane of migrants that, against a judge's order, were sent to El Salvador over the weekend.
Then there's the bizarre lovefest with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump nominated the whack-a-doodle RFK, Jr. to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This nomination was bragged about by Trump as an attempt to bridge political divides, given Kennedy Jr.'s environmental activism and his advocacy on health-related issues. But come on! RFK Jr. doesn't bridge any gaps; he instead stretches them to fantastical points.
RFK Jr. 's involvement with and 'acceptance' into the Trump MAGA world seemingly underscores Trump's continued engagement with the Kennedy family legacy, bringing a prominent member of the dynasty into his administration, even if that member has tarnished the family legacy and a majority of his own family disowns him.
TK CAPTION - see aboveRozenskiP/Shutterstock
Earlier this year, in another attempt to move closer to the Kennedys, Trump took an unusually keen interest in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He cleaned house, firing board members and administrative personnel, and then he made himself the chair of the board of the venerable institution.
While Rome burns, he announced plans to increase funding and support for the center, emphasizing its role in promoting American arts and culture. Come again? Trump is about as cultured and artsy as a dead snake.
As if he has nothing better to do, earlier this week he went to visit the Kennedy Center, saying it was in 'disrepair' despite the fact that it underwent an award-winning renovation as recently as 2019. With him on the tour was Second Lady Usha Vance. She and her husband were booed the week before when they showed up for a show.
In this situation, it's a case of Trump 'owning' something that is associated with our very popular — unlike Trump — 35th president. Which might explain what he did earlier in the year to diss JFK.
Shortly after he was elected, his administration made the decision to temporarily shut down the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. The official reasoning cited budgetary constraints and a shift toward digital archiving. However, critics argued that the closure represented a disregard for preserving historical sites related to the Kennedy legacy based on political reasons.
When it comes to JFK, Trump's obsession has no bounds. He has not shied away from drawing parallels between his wife, Melania Trump, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. He has frequently praised Melania's fashion sense and elegance, likening her to the former first lady, once saying, 'We have our own Jackie O. It's called Melania, Melania T.'
This comparison is Trump's attempt to associate himself with the glamour and sophistication often attributed to the Kennedy era. I can't imagine what our former first lady would say to this.
And in what would be an extreme stretch, in Trump's warped mind, he is trying to equate the Trumps with the Kennedy family political legacy. By involving his children in significant political and advisory roles, Trump appears to be trying to cultivate a family dynasty reminiscent of the Kennedys.
During his first term,Trump appointed his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, as senior advisers in the White House, and we all know how they worked out. The only thing they want in the second term is using the Trump name as a cash cow to fund Jared's business.
In Trump's second term, it's Donald Trump Jr. who has emerged as a significant figure within conservative circles, leveraging his platform to influence the direction of the Republican Party. Don Jr. has not ruled out future political endeavors like running for governor or senator in New York. Can you imagine the emergence of an unhinged Trump Jr.? The only thing that I can think of that would be worse is the emergence of a deranged RFK III.
In the 1988 vice-presidential debate, the Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Dan Quayle, tried to compare himself to President Kennedy. That year's Democratic vice-presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, provided a quote for the ages about the dangers of comparing yourself to a Kennedy.
Switching out Quayle with Trump, Bentsen would likely say today, "Donald, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Donald, you are no Jack Kennedy.
Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
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