Former US President Donald Trump is confronting significant public backlash following a series of social media posts attacking the Kennedy family. This controversy erupted just hours after the death of Tatiana Schlossberg, the 35-year-old granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy.
A Controversial Timing for Social Media Attacks
On January 1, 2026, as tributes poured in for Schlossberg, who lost her battle with leukemia, Trump's account on Truth Social was active with a different tone. The platform was flooded with reposts that mocked the broader Kennedy family. This activity occurred amid an existing controversy related to the rebranding of the Kennedy Center. Critics were swift to label the former president's actions as deeply insensitive, petty, and disrespectful during a moment of private grief for a public family.
Growing Outrage and Concrete Consequences
The reaction to Trump's posts has moved beyond online criticism. Several artists have reportedly canceled their scheduled performances at venues associated with the former president or in protest of his comments. Online outrage has continued to build, with many users and public figures expressing their dismay. This latest incident has reignited longstanding questions about Trump's conduct and public statements during periods of national or shared grief.
Context of the Kennedy Family Loss
Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, passed away at the age of 35. Her death was confirmed in news reports on the same day as Trump's social media activity. The Kennedy family, often referred to as American political royalty, has endured numerous tragedies over the decades, making the public perception of attacks during a fresh loss particularly severe.
The combination of a family mourning a young member and a political figure choosing that moment for criticism has created a potent wave of disapproval. Observers note that such episodes frequently spark debates about the boundaries of political discourse and basic human decency. The fallout from this incident is still developing, with potential for further cancellations and statements from both supporters and detractors of the former president.
