A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz musician Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier from the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Charles Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his longstanding role as host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s portico. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that no individual should have to endure baseless and politically motivated legal actions like those initiated by the Trump Administration.
Having been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, Redd pulled out of the event last year after Trump’s name was unveiled on the building’s exterior. In response, the center threatened legal action against Redd, citing his withdrawal in connection to their renaming decision honoring Trump. Subsequently, a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages was filed by the center, but it was later dismissed by the judge due to insufficient grounds for a breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was done unlawfully. This ruling stemmed from a series of changes instigated by Trump after assuming control of the center, which included the removal of David Rubinstein, the longtime chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.
Following these alterations, various figures in the arts and culture sphere distanced themselves from the center or canceled their scheduled appearances. Notable individuals such as Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rimes, and Issa Rae were among those who took action in response to the center’s association with Trump.
While the letters spelling out Trump’s name have been removed from the building’s facade as confirmed by the center in June, a tarp covering the scaffolding prevented immediate verification of the only remaining words, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
The Kennedy Center has expressed intentions to appeal the judge’s decision, whereas Redd’s legal team praised the ruling as appropriate. They criticized the Trump-influenced center for attempting to suppress opposition to the unauthorized name change through a frivolous lawsuit against Chuck Redd.
The Kennedy Center, a prestigious institution hosting over 2,000 events annually and serving as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, continues to be embroiled in legal and public controversies surrounding its recent developments.
