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 judgment follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by the same judge, Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, an American musician known as Charles, withdrew from his long-standing role as the host of the center’s annual Christmas Eve concert in objection to the controversial decision to include Donald Trump’s name on the building’s exterior. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that dealing with unwarranted and politically driven lawsuits from the Trump Administration should not be a citizen’s burden.
Having been a regular performer and host at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts, Redd opted out of the scheduled performance last year after Trump’s name was displayed on the building. The center had threatened legal action against Redd, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages for his abrupt withdrawal. However, the lawsuit was eventually dismissed by the Washington judge due to the center’s failure to present a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name had been illicitly added to the Kennedy Center, stemming from a conflict that began when Trump assumed control of the center by dismissing long-time chairman David Rubinstein. Subsequently, various figures in the arts and culture realm disassociated from the center or canceled appearances following the inclusion of Trump’s name, including prominent individuals like Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rimes, and Issa Rae.
The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal of the letters spelling out Trump’s name on the building facade in June. Despite this, a tarp continued to cover the scaffolding, obscuring visibility of the remaining words, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the recent ruling, while Redd’s legal representatives praised the judge’s decision as fitting. They criticized the Trump-led Kennedy Center for attempting to stifle opposition to the unauthorized name change through a baseless lawsuit against Chuck Redd. The institution, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains a significant cultural hub in Washington.