Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, has publicly stated his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a “Russian spy,” intensifying an ongoing family disagreement linked to RFK Jr.’s political allegiances. This statement came after RFK Jr.’s contentious endorsement of Donald Trump, subsequent to the suspension of his independent 2024 presidential campaign.
Schlossberg, 31, made the comment on social media, saying, “RFK Jr. is so obviously a Russian spy. You all think I’m joking. Hahahaha.” Despite the apparent humor, this remark underlines the serious disagreements within the renowned Kennedy family, a name linked with Democratic values. Earlier this year, Schlossberg criticized RFK Jr.’s campaign as an “embarrassment” and accused him of leveraging the family’s reputation and celebrity status as well as promoting conspiracy theories for personal advantage.
An Instagram post raised eyebrows – a striking collage featuring Kennedy alongside a trio of Soviet-era powerbrokers. The imagery placed his subject in the company of Joseph Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev, both former Prime Ministers of the USSR and Leonid Brezhnev, who wielded authority as the Communist Party’s general secretary. While Schlossberg’s visual statement made waves, he did not provide any explanation or additional commentary about its intended meaning.
The decision by RFK Jr., 70, to support Trump, considered by many to be an ideological departure within the family, has heightened the conflict. At a press conference where he announced his support for Trump, RFK Jr. commended the former president’s approach to international relations and his commitment to combat corruption. Schlossberg promptly countered, stating, “Never been less surprised in my life. I’ve been saying it for over a year — RFK Jr. is for sale, works for Trump. Bedfellows and loving it.”
The Kennedys have long represented liberal politics and public service, making RFK Jr.’s break from this tradition especially contentious. Family critics argue that his stances, such as vaccine skepticism and anti-establishment rhetoric, are contrary to the principles upheld by his late father, Robert F. Kennedy.
Speculation has emerged suggesting Kennedy is leveraging his connection to the incoming President by reportedly advocating for Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, who is married to his son, to secure a senior role at the CIA. According to these reports, the alleged motivation behind this push is to gain access to information about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
RFK Jr. has not publicly responded to Schlossberg’s statements. His team, however, has dismissed the criticisms as “family disagreements blown out of proportion.” The Kennedy family, once a symbol of Democratic unity, is now facing one of its most public internal disputes.