Trump Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell is suing jazz musician Chuck Redd for $1 million after Redd abruptly canceled this year’s annual “Christmas Eve Jazz Jam” in protest of the Center’s new name honoring President Donald J. Trump. The board of the Kennedy Center unanimously voted to rename it “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” prompting Redd to cancel just hours before the performance.
Redd told the Associated Press that the name change prompted his withdrawal. Grenell responded with a formal letter, stating the decision caused significant financial loss and reputational harm. He accused Redd of putting politics ahead of his duty to perform and criticized the cancellation as a “political stunt.”
In the letter, Grenell said the Center would seek $1 million in damages, citing weak ticket sales and the last-minute nature of the decision. He called the move classic intolerance, arguing that it aligned with a broader pattern of leftist efforts to politicize the arts and boycott Trump-associated institutions.
Grenell emphasized that the Center was created to serve all Americans, not just coastal elites or liberal performers. He warned that the decision to cancel based on the name change sends a damaging message to the broader artistic community and donors.
Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations for the Trump Kennedy Center, condemned Redd’s actions, saying artists who cancel over political differences are selfish and fail to serve the public. She reaffirmed that the Center is committed to offering inclusive programming that transcends political lines.
Grenell’s letter noted that attendance for Redd’s show was already trailing other holiday performances. He pointed out that other avant-garde jazz artists continue to perform at the Center to sold-out crowds, regardless of their political views.
This isn’t the first time leftwing artists have withdrawn from the Kennedy Center. Since Trump appointed himself chairman, several performers have canceled, claiming political differences. In one case, a Democratic lawmaker filed a lawsuit over the renaming.
Under Grenell and Trump’s leadership, the Center has seen significant improvements in fundraising and visibility. This year’s Kennedy Center Honors raised $23 million, up from $12.7 million under President Biden. The National Symphony Orchestra gala also set a record by raising $3.45 million in September.
President Trump has remained directly involved in the Center’s development, attending events and promoting its mission to a broader audience. He has said the Center has been “greatly enhanced” and is becoming physically and financially stronger.
Despite opposition from the left and media criticism, Trump and Grenell continue to expand programming and draw in new patrons. They argue that the Trump Kennedy Center is no longer a partisan enclave but a revitalized institution committed to celebrating American culture and the arts.
