WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2025 – The Kennedy Center is facing a $1 million legal threat after a jazz musician canceled a Christmas Eve performance in protest of the venue’s recent renaming to honour former President Donald Trump. The dispute highlights a growing cultural battle over the iconic performing arts center.
Musician Faces Legal Action Over Concert Cancellation
The Kennedy Center president is threatening a lawsuit after a musician pulled out of a scheduled performance due to the venue’s name change.
- Legal Threat – Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell is pursuing legal action against jazz musician Chuck Redd for $1 million in damages.
- Cancellation Reason – Redd canceled his christmas Eve concert in response to the Kennedy Center being renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
- Performance Cancellations – At least 26 performances have been canceled since Trump became Kennedy Center chairman in February.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has vowed to seek $1 million in damages from jazz musician Chuck Redd,accusing him of a “political stunt” after Redd canceled his scheduled Christmas Eve concert. The cancellation stemmed from the center’s board of trustees’ unanimous decision to rename the institution the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
Grenell,in a letter obtained by The Associated Press on Friday,characterized Redd’s decision as mirroring “the sad bullying tactics” employed by some on the left. “Your decision to withdraw at the last moment – explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure – is classic intolerance adn very costly to a non-profit Arts institution,” Grenell wrote.He further asserted that Redd’s actions were a surrender to intimidation tactics aimed at boycotting performances at the national cultural center.
Redd did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Christmas Eve Tradition Disrupted
The Christmas Eve Jazz Jam has been a Kennedy Center tradition for over two decades, with Redd leading the event since 2006. The decision to rename the venue, formerly known as the john F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,was made a week prior to the scheduled performance by a board of trustees handpicked by Trump. The move has been described as controversial and perhaps illegal.
“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd told the AP on Dec. 24. The change sparked immediate backlash, with numerous artists voicing their disapproval.
What is the extent of the fallout from the Kennedy Center’s renaming? Since Trump’s appointment as Kennedy Center chairman in early February, at least 26 performances have been canceled, including 15 cancellations initiated by the scheduled acts themselves. Issa Rae canceled her Feb. 14 show, citing an “infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums.” Low cut Connie, a Philadelphia rock and soul band, canceled their March 19 concert on Feb. 13.
In April, Guster protested the changes-which included the cancellation of performances of the LGBTQ+ musical Finn-by inviting the Finn cast to join them onstage during their concert at the venue. The repercussions have extended to future programming, with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jefferey Seller canceling a planned 2026 run of Hamilton, stating, “The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is indeed the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re just not going to be part of it.”
