A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 US in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of a lawsuit by the center against Redd for breach of contract, as ruled by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his long-standing role as host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, condemned the lawsuit as baseless and politically motivated, stating that no individual should have to endure such legal challenges.
Redd had been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years but withdrew from the event last year shortly after Trump’s name was affixed to the building. The center threatened to sue Redd, seeking $1 million US in damages, citing his withdrawal as intolerant and costly to the institution. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by the judge due to a lack of a valid breach of contract claim.
In a separate legal ruling, a federal judge declared that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center. This decision stemmed from ongoing turmoil initiated when Trump assumed control of the center, removing long-serving chair David Rubinstein. Several figures in the arts and culture sphere have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances following these changes.
The Kennedy Center has since removed the letters spelling out Trump’s name from the facade, with only the name “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” remaining visible. The center plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team commended the ruling as just. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and serving as the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, continues to navigate the fallout from these events.