A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of a lawsuit by the center against Redd for breach of contract. In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his annual role as host of the center’s Christmas Eve concert due to the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior.
Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that the lawsuits brought forth by the Trump Administration were baseless and politically motivated. Redd, who had been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, pulled out of the event shortly after Trump’s name was displayed on the building. The center threatened to sue Redd for $1 million, citing intolerance and labeling it a legal maneuver, but the lawsuit was later dismissed for lack of a valid breach of contract claim by the judge.
In a separate ruling, a federal judge determined that Trump’s name had been improperly added to the Kennedy Center. The conflict arose when Trump assumed control of the center and dismissed long-time chairman David Rubinstein. Several figures in the arts and culture sphere have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances since the controversial renaming. The Kennedy Center has confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from the facade, although a tarp still covers the scaffolding, obscuring the final wording.
The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the court ruling, while Redd’s legal team praised the judge’s decision as appropriate. The institution serves as the official home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, hosting over 2,000 events annually.
