Inside the Kennedy family feud as siblings criticize RFK’s decision to support Trump

One of America’s most famous families has a history of feuding, the latest chapter of which was publicly revealed when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump.

RFK Jr. suspended his 2024 campaign on Friday, officially breaking the Kennedy family’s longstanding tradition of supporting the Democratic party by backing Trump.

Within minutes, his siblings released a short statement supporting Harris and condemning RFK Jr.

“We want an America full of hope and united by a shared vision of a better future, a future marked by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride,” the siblings wrote.

“We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values ​​our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story,” they concluded.

The letter was signed by his siblings, former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.

But this isn’t the first time the Kennedy family has been at odds. Previously, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister, was said to have a deep dislike for Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy because she thought she wasn’t “good enough” for her brother, and JFK Jr. even felt that some husbands were “milking the family name.”

RFK Jr. suspended his 2024 campaign on Friday, officially breaking the Kennedy family’s longstanding tradition of supporting Democratic parties by endorsing Trump. Within minutes, the family feud began when the family issued a snap statement supporting Harris and condemning RFK

But this isn’t the first time the Kennedy family has disagreed. Previously, Caroline Kennedy was said to have a deep dislike for Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy because she thought she wasn’t “good enough” for her brother, and JFK Jr. even thought some husbands were “milking the family name.”

When news broke that JFK Jr. was dating Calvin Klein’s publicity director Carolyn, the world was in an uproar.

While the media reported their actions with admiration, there was one person who did not approve of the relationship: JFK Jr.’s older sister, Caroline.

According to friends, Caroline, who is now the US ambassador to Australia, refused to accept her brother’s new romance. Even after they were married, it was clear she didn’t like the fashion guru.

Sasha Chermayeff, JFK Jr.’s girlfriend, said in her new book, JFK Jr.: An Intimate Biography, that Caroline didn’t like the fact that Carolyn came from an “upper-middle-class background that wasn’t noble.”

“Carolyn was beautiful, intense, funny, smart, but if there was one thing you had to fault her for, it was that she came from an… upper-middle-class Connecticut family and was not of noble birth,” Sasha wrote.

‘It became clear to me that Caroline would not accept Carolyn until the very last moment, until she had no choice – until she stood at the bloody altar and there was no longer any doubt that she was part of the family.’

Sasha said Caroline found her husband’s sister “condescending,” adding: “I don’t think there was much love lost between (Carolyn) and Caroline.”

Caroline Kennedy (second from right) felt that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (far left) was not ‘good enough’ for her brother JFK Jr.

According to friends of the deceased couple, Caroline refused to accept her brother’s new romance until the wedding, and even after they tied the knot, she was not fond of Carolyn.

Steven M. Gillon, who previously studied JFK Jr.’s life extensively for his own book, America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr., agrees with the author.

“Caroline didn’t think Carolyn was good enough for John — she and (husband Edwin Schlossberg) just thought she was short-tempered and selfish,” he said.

He recalled a time when the two couples got together to celebrate Christmas, but Caroline felt “disrespected” when Carolyn and Ed left the party early.

“Carolyn was so concerned (about impressing Caroline) and she had all kinds of presents for them,” Steven said.

“They go there and Caroline and Ed left within the hour to go to a sporting event or something. Carolyn thought that was so disrespectful.”

Tensions also grew between JFK Jr. and Caroline’s husband Ed.

They allegedly argued over an auction where John Jr. planned to “sell his mother’s belongings after she passed away.”

“They had to pay a lot of taxes on Martha’s Vineyard, so they had to sell a lot of stuff,” Steven said.

‘John wanted a private auction – he didn’t want the media attention of a public auction.

‘Ed thought a public auction would bring in more money, and rightly so. What John resented was that Ed was making the decision – he believed that he and Caroline were the only ones who should make decisions about the family.

“And he resented Caroline delegating some of that responsibility to Ed.”

Steve said John Jr. also “went ballistic” after Ed offered to narrate an HBO documentary about his father, the late President John F. Kennedy, on the anniversary of his assassination.

“John was angry because they essentially put him in as the narrator without even asking him,” added RoseMarie Terenzio, JFK Jr.’s former aide.

Rob Littell, a friend of JFK Jr., said the budding lawyer felt Ed was “exploiting the family name.”

Sasha said Caroline found her husband’s sister “condescending,” adding: “I don’t think there’s much love lost between (Carolyn) and Caroline.” The couple pictured in 1999

Sasha interrupted him: ‘John thought Ed was entitled to it and he’s driving a wedge between him and his sister.

‘John was so close to his sister, and then they stopped talking. Up until that point, no one had driven a wedge between John and his sister, and John hated that.

‘Carolyn was like, “F**k them. They’re belittling you, they’re bossing you around.” She was going to ramp it up even more, because her thing was protection.

“John stayed with Carolyn. Caroline stayed with Ed. The breakup was a deep wound.”

According to the book, there were also growing tensions between JFK Jr. and Caroline’s husband, Ed. Ed was seen with Caroline last year

JFK Jr. and Carolyn tragically died in a shocking plane crash in 1999.

Friends also tell of the hilarious way Lee Radziwill took revenge on JFK Jr. and Carolyn after they didn’t invite her to their wedding.

The couple secretly married in September 1996, but Lee, JFK Jr.’s aunt, did not attend the wedding.

According to RoseMarie, JFK Jr. did not invite Lee because “he did not trust her to maintain his trust.”

And the society woman showed her disdain for their decision when they celebrated Christmas together a few months later.

“That Christmas after the wedding, Carolyn and Lee exchanged gifts in their apartment,” Rose explained.

In the book, friends also revealed the hilarious way JFK Jr.’s aunt Lee Radziwill took revenge on him and Carolyn after they didn’t invite her to their wedding. She is seen in 1976

His assistant said Lee (pictured here with JFK Jr.’s mother) gave the couple “scrunchies and barrettes” for Christmas that year, saying, “That was (my) f**k you for not inviting you.”

‘Carolyn gave her a Hermes blanket and Carolyn opened her gift from Lee and it was a box of Duane Reade hair clips. Duane Reade scrunchies and hair clips – like Goody hair clips.

‘Carolyn was like, “I find that hilarious.” (Lee) was like, “You know what that was, honey? That was (my) f**k you for not inviting me to your wedding. How dare you.”

“I’m sure Lee, who only cared about appearances, was embarrassed that she wasn’t invited to John’s wedding.”

DailyMail.com has contacted Caroline’s representatives for comment.