Following a series of controversial posts and public disputes, Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of John F. Kennedy and son of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, has erased his presence from social media. This has sparked worries regarding the potential impact on the Kennedy family’s legacy.
Schlossberg, aged 32, had previously garnered attention for his direct political commentary, satirical videos, and confrontations with public figures including cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and certain conservative media personalities. His recent actions, however, have been met with criticism from within his family, with cousin Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy expressing to The Post her hope for him to seek help. Kathleen is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has frequently found himself in Schlossberg’s line of fire.
The controversy surrounding Schlossberg heightened after the election victory of President Donald Trump and his appointment of RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Schlossberg, dissatisfied by his family’s silence, implored them to voice their objections, questioning in a now-removed video, “How come I’m the only one who’s talking out?“ He also delivered a profanity-filled warning about the gravity of the situation.
His mother, Caroline Kennedy, also penned a severe letter appealing to senators to reject RFK Jr.’s confirmation, labeling him a “predator” and stating that her father and uncles “would be disgusted.”
In recent weeks, Schlossberg’s social media activities have grown increasingly unpredictable. He filmed a satirical impersonation of Dershowitz, making reference to allegations linked to Epstein. Dershowitz, a former employee of Schlossberg’s great-uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy and a former tutor to Joseph Kennedy III at Harvard, retorted by arguing that Schlossberg has inflicted more damage on the Kennedy name than all other Kennedys combined.
Dershowitz also accused Schlossberg of falsely claiming that he (Dershowitz) had murdered his wife—who remains alive—and stated that he was consulting with lawyers about potential defamation charges. Schlossberg did not respond to requests for comment.
Besides political assaults, Schlossberg’s posts turned inappropriate. He ridiculed RFK Jr.’s spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that affects his speech.
Schlossberg also targeted conservative figures such as Megyn Kelly and Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan. He mockingly questioned Kelly’s gender and stated that she was no longer eligible to participate in women’s sports. When Callahan penned an article about his behavior, Schlossberg retaliated with sexist slurs on Instagram, only to remove the posts later.
The escalating controversy culminated in his sudden exit from social media. “I’m sorry to everyone I hurt. I was wrong. I’m deleting all my social media. Forever,” he announced in a last post before deactivating his accounts on Thursday, February 6.
Schlossberg’s actions have been criticized as detrimental to the reputation of the Kennedy family, once esteemed for its political grace. Biographer Laurence Leamer pointed out the oddity of Schlossberg lacking his grandfather JFK’s moderation, stressing the importance of rational opposition. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, on the other hand, dismissed the Kennedy dynasty, arguing that most Americans currently “just ignore the rest of them.”
Despite being a Harvard graduate and holding both a law degree and an MBA, Schlossberg has not yet established a clear career trajectory. He has previously worked as an EMT and a State Department assistant, but seems to live primarily at his family’s Upper East Side, New York City home. Sharing videos of himself skateboarding and practicing ballet, he told Vogue last year that to engage audiences on serious topics, “you need to make it entertaining or fun.”
With Schlossberg’s departure from social media, it remains to be seen whether he will reenter public discourse or if this retreat signifies the end of his public presence.
The Kennedy family, which was once seen as a beacon of political diplomacy, now faces renewed criticism as one of its younger members brings controversy instead of decorum to their name.
