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 accusing Redd of breaching a contract. In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his longstanding position as the 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 facade.
Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that the lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration was baseless and politically motivated. Redd had been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for many years but pulled out of the event last year after Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the building. The center threatened to sue Redd for withdrawing at the last minute, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by a Washington judge for failing to establish a valid breach of contract claim.
The legal dispute arose from Trump’s unauthorized addition of his name to the Kennedy Center, which led to significant changes within the institution, including the removal of key figures in the arts and culture community. Notable personalities like Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae disassociated themselves from the center in response. The removal of Trump’s name from the center was confirmed in June, although a tarp covering the scaffolding made it challenging to determine the remaining wording.
The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the judge’s ruling, while Redd’s legal team commended the decision as appropriate. The institution, which hosts a multitude of events each year and serves as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains embroiled in controversy surrounding the name change initiated during Trump’s tenure.