A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz musician 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, Charles Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his annual role as host of the center’s Christmas Eve concert in protest of the controversial decision to add Donald Trump’s name to the building. Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated that the lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration was baseless and politically motivated.
Redd had been a long-time host and performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts but canceled his appearance last year after Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the building’s facade. The center threatened to sue Redd for withdrawing from the event, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by the judge due to lack of a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center, which sparked a conflict when Trump took control of the institution by dismissing key personnel. Since then, various figures in the arts and culture industry have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances in response to the controversy.
The Kennedy Center has confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from its facade, with only “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” remaining visible. The center plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s lawyers have praised the ruling as appropriate. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains at the center of this legal and political dispute.