A Grammy-winning banjoist just pulled the plug on three Kennedy Center concerts scheduled for February. The reason? Trump’s name now adorns the building meant to honor JFK alone.
He told NPR the institution had become “charged and political,” shifting from a performance venue to a political statement. His withdrawal is the latest in a stunning exodus of elite talent abandoning the venue.
Gershwin Dream Dies
The National Symphony Orchestra had booked a legendary banjoist to perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”—arguably America’s most iconic classical-jazz fusion piece. Three concerts scheduled for February 2026 were canceled in January.
The NSO’s executive director expressed disappointment but said they hoped to welcome the artist back in the future. The cancellation leaves ticket holders scrambling for refunds.
48 Hours to Transform 62 Years of History
December 18: Board votes “unanimously” to rename venue. December 19: Trump’s name is physically installed on the building’s exterior. December 20: The website is rebranded to “The Trump Kennedy Center.”
The speed was staggering. What took 62 years to establish as JFK’s memorial was transformed in less than 48 hours. By the end of the week, the transformation was complete and irreversible.
The Suspicious “Unanimous” Vote That Wasn’t
Rep. Joyce Beatty claims her microphone was muted during the Zoom board meeting. She couldn’t object. Afterward? “They said it’s unanimous. Everybody is for it.”
Beatty’s lawsuit alleges that multiple board members could not voice their positions during the “unanimous” vote, raising questions about how many actually supported the change. Legal documents indicate procedural concerns arose.
The Grammy-Winning Banjoist Who Said No
Béla Fleck, the legendary banjoist, didn’t mince words when announcing his withdrawal. He said the Kennedy Center had become “charged and political,” an institution where “the focus should be on the music.”
Fleck told NPR he could not ethically perform at the venue. His name and his principles became synonymous with artistic resistance overnight.
The Kennedy Family Fights Back
Joe Kennedy III, JFK’s great-nephew, issued a blunt statement: “It can no sooner be renamed than someone can rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.” Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, posted on X that “microphones were muted and the vote was NOT unanimous.”
The family watched helplessly as their ancestor’s memorial became Trump’s trophy. Their legal opposition continues.
Trump’s February 2025 Power Play
Trump fired Deborah Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center, and David Rubenstein, chairman of the Kennedy Center, in February. He appointed himself board chairman and removed multiple board members.
Then came the new board: Second Lady Usha Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Fox News host Laura Ingraham. It was a complete political transformation in just weeks.
The Man Trump Picked to Run Things
Trump appointed Richard Grenell—his former ambassador to Germany—as Kennedy Center president. Grenell’s first major act? Threatening jazz drummer Chuck Redd with a $1 million lawsuit for canceling a Christmas concert.
The message was clear: Comply or face legal warfare. Grenell became the enforcement arm of Trump’s cultural vision.
A 20-Year Christmas Tradition Ends
Chuck Redd had hosted a free Christmas Eve “Jazz Jam” at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage since 2006. When Trump’s name went up on the building, Redd canceled the December 24 show.
Grenell’s response letter accused him of “classic intolerance” and demanded $1 million in damages. A 20-year tradition—beloved by thousands—ended in one week.
The “Woke Mob” Counterattack
When Fleck announced his withdrawal, Grenell responded on X: “You caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties.” Fleck shot back with his own statement: the institution had already become political, and there was no mob pressuring him.
The dispute captured the deeper battle over artistic freedom and institutional integrity. Both sides refused to back down.
Broadway’s Biggest Hit Walks Away
Hamilton (Broadway’s biggest sensation since “The Lion King”) canceled its scheduled Kennedy Center run. Rhiannon Giddens, a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-winning musician, pulled her concert. Stephen Schwartz, who composed “Wicked,” withdrew from hosting a Washington National Opera gala.
Ben Folds resigned as NSO artistic adviser. Issa Rae canceled her performance. Multiple major artists abandoned the venue.
The “Wicked” Composer Speaks Truth
Stephen Schwartz stated, “The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression, but appearing there has now become an ideological statement.” His gala withdrawal sent shockwaves through the arts world.
The Kennedy Center lost a major fundraiser and credibility with Broadway’s elite in one decision. Schwartz’s exit signaled that even marquee names would walk away.
Opera’s Biggest Star and a Rock Band Depart
Opera legend Renée Fleming resigned as Artistic Advisor at Large, praising outgoing president Rutter as “a tireless, creative leader.” Musician Ben Folds posted on Instagram: “Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO. Not for me.” Two titans of classical music walked away. Their departures symbolized the institution’s cultural collapse.
The Money That Doesn’t Add Up
The Kennedy Center claims $131 million in private donations, $257 million from Congress, and $250 million in deferred maintenance addressed under the Trump administration. But the ratings tell a different story.
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors drew record-low viewership, raising questions about whether money and prestige still move in the same direction. Numbers contradicted the institution’s narrative of success.
A Broadcast Nobody Watched
Trump promised “the highest ratings in history.” Instead: 3.01 million viewers—the lowest since the broadcast began nationally. Down 26 percent from 2024’s already-low 4.1 million. Down from 5.3 million in 2023.
The Kennedy Center claimed 1.5 billion social media impressions but couldn’t explain why TV audiences collapsed. The numbers became a metaphor for institutional decline.
Trump’s Personal 98 Percent Control
Trump told reporters: “I was about 98% involved” in selecting 2025 honorees. Sylvester Stallone (Trump loyalist), KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Michael Crawford. Gone was the traditional bipartisan advisory committee.
Trump personally vetted and rejected names he deemed “too woke.” The Honors became propaganda, not prestige. It marked the first time a sitting president had hosted the ceremony.
The Lawsuit That Could Change Everything
Rep. Joyce Beatty’s lawsuit, filed in late December, seeks to void the renaming, remove signage, and restore the Kennedy Center’s original name. Her legal team argues: “The President and his sycophants have no lawful authority to rename the Kennedy Center.”
If Beatty wins, Trump’s name comes down. The case could land in the Supreme Court within months.
The Contradiction at the Center of Everything
Grenell claimed: “The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome—Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics.” But his $1 million lawsuit against Chuck Redd and attacks on Fleck contradicted that message.
If all people are welcome, why threaten bankruptcy for declining to perform? The contradiction exposed the real agenda beneath the rhetoric.
America’s Cultural Institution
Trump announced the takeover, saying he would change the institution’s programming direction. He removed staff and canceled certain performance series. The Kennedy Center shifted from a democratic cultural treasure to a Trump-branded loyalty test.
Artists faced an impossible choice: endorse Trump’s vision or withdraw. The damage to the institution’s reputation became permanent.
The Outcome Still Uncertain
Federal law still says Congress controls the Kennedy Center’s name. Artists still need venues. Trump still controls the board. Fleck still holds his principles. Chuck Redd still faces a lawsuit.
The institution meant to unite America artistically became a battleground. The outcome remains uncertain—but the damage to America’s cultural credibility is already visible to the world.
Sources:
“Béla Fleck cancels Kennedy Center appearance, says it’s ‘charged and political'” – NPR, January 7, 2026
“President Trump adds his own name to the Kennedy Center” – NHPR, December 17, 2025
“Rep. Joyce Beatty with CNN’s Jake Tapper: Kennedy Center Vote Was Not Unanimous” – CNN, December 18, 2025
“Kennedy Center board votes to rename it ‘Trump Kennedy Center'” – CNN, December 18, 2025
“Trump assumes Kennedy Center chairmanship, ousts longtime president” – Politico, February 12, 2025
“Trump’s Kennedy Center Honors Ratings Plummet to Record Low” – IMDB News, January 9, 2026