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 the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his annual hosting duties at the center’s free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s portico. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated that the lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration was baseless and politically motivated.
Having been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, Redd pulled out of the event last year shortly after Trump’s name was unveiled 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 judge dismissed the suit, citing the center’s failure to present a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was illegal. The controversial move occurred after Trump dismissed long-time Kennedy Center chair David Rubinstein. Several notable figures in the arts and culture sphere have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances since the change was implemented.
The letters spelling out Trump’s name on the building have since been removed, with a tarp covering the scaffolding in place. The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the ruling, while Redd’s legal team supports the judge’s decision, describing the center’s lawsuit as an attempt to stifle opposition to the name change.
The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains embroiled in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Trump’s name being added to the institution.