On Christmas Eve 2025, jazz musician Chuck Redd ended his 19-year tradition of hosting a free Christmas Eve concert at the Kennedy Center. His decision came after the board voted to add Donald Trump’s name to the building, a move that turned a longtime holiday event into a flashpoint in a national debate over politics, culture, and control at one of America’s most famous arts institutions.
Redd, who had led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jams since 2006, said the name change made performing impossible for him. His cancellation reflected not just personal conviction but a widening divide over how the Kennedy Center should represent American culture in a politically charged era.
A Political Shake-Up at the Kennedy Center
Tensions began building much earlier in 2025, when Trump returned to the White House and quickly took control of the Kennedy Center’s leadership. He dismissed several board members and, breaking precedent, appointed himself chairman, the first time a sitting president had done so. New board members included his close political associates Susie Wiles, Pam Bondi, Usha Vance, and former ambassador Richard Grenell, who also became interim president.
Trump soon announced a new cultural direction for the center. On social media, he criticized drag performances and said he would end shows he called “anti-American propaganda.” The administration canceled Pride events, shut down the Social Impact department, and laid off seven employees. The changes drew immediate criticism from the arts community.
By spring, leading artists began distancing themselves from the institution. Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller withdrew a scheduled 2026 run, saying the Kennedy Center no longer reflected its mission as a national cultural center. Other artists, including Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and Ben Folds, followed suit, signaling growing dissatisfaction with the Trump-led changes.
Renaming Sparks Backlash and Boycotts
The conflict reached a new level in December 2025, when the Trump-aligned board voted to rename the building “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” According to the White House, the vote was unanimous, though Democratic board member Rep. Joyce Beatty later said she had been muted during the video call and could not object. Trump’s name appeared on the building the very next day.
That prompted Redd to cancel his Christmas Eve concert, calling the renaming a turning point. Days later, Grenell responded with a letter accusing him of staging a political stunt and demanding $1 million in damages, even though the performance had been a free event with no ticket sales. The threat only deepened the controversy, and more artists began pulling out.
The jazz group The Cookers canceled their New Year’s Eve concerts, saying jazz “was born from struggle and freedom.” Choreographer Doug Varone and his dance company withdrew from spring performances despite heavy financial losses. Composer Stephen Schwartz also dropped out, adding to the impression of a spreading artistic boycott.
Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center was already struggling to attract audiences. Ratings for the December 2025 Kennedy Center Honors dropped to 3 million viewers, the lowest in the show’s history. Ticket sales across major theaters fell drastically, with 43 percent of seats unsold during the fall season. Even The Nutcracker, normally a reliable box-office favorite, drew far fewer attendees than previous years.
Legal Battles and Uncertain Future
The December renaming triggered immediate legal and political challenges. Rep. Beatty filed a lawsuit arguing that adding Trump’s name violated the law that created the Kennedy Center in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. That federal statute forbids new memorials or plaques without congressional approval.
Members of the Kennedy family joined the opposition. Maria Shriver called the name change “beyond comprehension,” and Kerry Kennedy vowed to remove Trump’s name personally once his presidency ends. Legal experts noted that the case could hinge on how courts interpret the 1964 law, specifically, whether a renaming counts as creating a new memorial.
In Congress, Rep. Chellie Pingree led over 70 lawmakers in signing a letter urging Trump to reverse the decision, saying the name could not be changed legally without congressional action. Amid the legal disputes, Kennedy Center employees organized a union under the United Auto Workers, hoping to protect jobs and artistic independence after dozens of staff firings. Union leaders said they wanted to keep the center “a beacon for bold, uncompromising art and education.”
At the same time, many doubted the Kennedy Center’s $1 million claim against Chuck Redd would hold up. Legal observers pointed out that no tickets were sold, meaning no quantifiable financial loss occurred. They suggested a lawsuit would struggle to prove any real damages.
As 2026 began, the Kennedy Center faced mounting challenges, plummeting ticket sales, boycotts, public protests, legal battles, and a tarnished reputation. Trump’s supporters argued they were restoring traditional American values to the arts. Critics countered that politics had crippled one of the nation’s most important cultural institutions. Whether the courts, Congress, or audiences can help the center recover its original, nonpartisan mission remains an open question.
Sources:
Artists cancel performances at Trump-Kennedy Center, citing ‘takeover’ by Trump administration. ABC News, December 30, 2025
New Lawsuit Challenges Illegal Renaming of the Kennedy Center. Washington Litigation Group, December 22, 2025
Letter from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree et al. to President Trump opposing Kennedy Center renaming. Congressional Record, December 23, 2025
Kennedy Center’s turbulent year ends with canceled New Year’s Eve shows and record-low ratings. San Francisco Chronicle, December 2025
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Change Its Name to Trump-Kennedy Center. The Washington Post, October 31, 2025