Trump fans blast musician who canceled holiday concert to protest Kennedy Center rebrand: ‘Super bad TDS’
Jazz Artist Pulls Christmas Eve Show After Kennedy Center Gets “Trump” Makeover
WASHINGTON — Musicians and political pundits alike are buzzing this week after drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd – longtime host of the Kennedy Center’s annual “Christmas Eve Jazz Jam” – pulled the plug on his concert moments before the audience was expected to take their seats.
According to Redd’s statement, the sudden decision was a direct reaction to the rebranding of the world‑famous performing‑arts venue to the “Trump‑Kennedy Center.” “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 wrote.
The move was quickly seized upon by supporters of President Trump, who launched a barrage of comments on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Critics labeled the musician a “super bad” case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, calling his act a cowardly “piece of garbage” and urging attendees to “BOYCOTT YOU.” One tweet read, “You can cancel your show, but all you’ve accomplished is cancelling yourself.”
Yet the backlash wasn’t universal. A follower who claims to be a military veteran defended Redd, saying, “I worked for 6 presidents while in uniform. I worked for them all despite my personal feelings about some of them.” Opposite to them, a supporter sent a shout‑out to Redd on Instagram, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Redd. We need more people of principle, not the sycophants orbiting this administration,” while another added, “Merry Christmas!! You are a real one for sticking to your morals and saying no to fascism!” (three heart‑shaped emojis included).
While the controversy over the concert split many social media users, the question of why the Kennedy Center was renamed remains. On December 18, the institution’s board, chaired by President Trump himself, approved the change in what officials claimed was a unanimous vote. However, the decision prompted criticism from ex‑officio, congressionally appointed Democrats who said otherwise.
In a clarification later this week, White House Office of Management and Budget general counsel Mark Paoletta explained that “[e]arlier this year, the Board modified the bylaws with a technical amendment to formalize the longstanding practice that ex officio members are non‑voting members of the Board.” Despite this, the center’s statement praised the rebrand, asserting that it “reflects the unequivocal bipartisan support for America’s cultural center for generations to come.”
Congress approved $250 million this fiscal year for a comprehensive renovation of the sprawling complex at the Trump’s urging. President Trump has reportedly taken a keen interest in both the structural updates and future programmatic offerings. As the debate rages on, the Kennedy Center—now the Trump‑Kennedy Center—continues to be a flashpoint for the intersection of politics and the arts.
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