In a surprise move that rattled the Washington music scene, a Christmas‑Eve jazz concert at the renamed Trump‑Kennedy Center was pulled off Wednesday after the long‑time host decided against performing in protest of the venue’s new name.
The performing‑arts center, once known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, was renamed by a board led by President Donald Trump the week before. Trump, who now chairs the board, said he was “surprised” by the decision but “honored” by it—after all, he had hinted earlier that the name change was coming and even slipped the combined title on the building’s signage this month.
After seeing the change on the center’s website and the building itself, drummer, vibraphone player and longtime host Chuck Redd announced he would not take the stage. “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 Associated Press. “I’ve been performing at the Kennedy Center since the beginning of my career and I was saddened to see this name change,” he added to CNN.
The free concert, which was also set to be livestreamed, was marked “canceled” on the Trump‑Kennedy Center website. Neither the venue nor Redd responded to requests for comment.
Some high‑profile artists have joined the protest. Lin‑Manuel Miranda, the creator of “Hamilton,” and other performers have said they will not stage musical productions, concerts, or other events at the rebranded venue. Congressional leaders—including Democratic members of the House—have voiced similar concerns, arguing that the board lacks the authority to rename an institution that honors a former president.
These tensions arise after Trump, soon after taking office a second term, replaced all former President Joe Biden’s appointees on the center’s board and installed himself as chairman, with close ally Ric Grenell serving as interim executive director.
The president has pledged that the Trump‑Kennedy Center will usher in a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” but the renaming and fallout have left many in the arts community questioning the future of the prestigious venue.
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