The jazz performance, known as the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam, has been a holiday tradition at the iconic cultural institution for nearly two decades. But this year, jazz musician Chuck Redd decided to cancel the event after the Kennedy Center's board of trustees added President Donald Trump's name to the building's official signage and title.
The center's name was recently changed to the 'Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,' following a decision by a board whose membership has shifted under new leadership.
The name change sparked intense backlash from artists, lawmakers, and members of the Kennedy family, who argue that the institution was established by Congress as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy should not be renamed without legislative approval.
Redd, who had hosted the Christmas Eve jazz event since 2006, said he chose to cancel upon seeing the name change, calling it a matter of principle.
In response, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell sharply criticized Redd's decision. Grenell described the cancellation as a political stunt that harmed the nonprofit arts institution financially and culturally, and he indicated the center may seek $1 million in damages from the musician for withdrawing from the event.
Several high‑profile performers have distanced themselves from the center following the renaming, and legal challenges have been raised by lawmakers who contend the board lacked authority to alter the institution's statutory name.
Rania Umutoni
