Trump-Kennedy Center Files $1M Lawsuit Against Musician Who Cancelled Last Minute

A jazz musician who abruptly pulled out of hosting a long-running Christmas Eve concert at the Trump–Kennedy Center may soon face serious legal consequences, as venue leadership signals it is prepared to pursue up to $1 million in damages over what officials describe as a politically motivated breach of contract.

The annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam was scrapped after drummer and vibraphone player Chuck Redd announced he would no longer participate, objecting to President Donald J. Trump’s name being added to the iconic performing arts venue, according to reporting from the New York Post.

Richard Grenell, president of the Trump–Kennedy Center, addressed the situation directly in a letter to Redd obtained by The New York Post, stating that the musician’s last-minute withdrawal violated his hosting obligations and amounted to a partisan political stunt.

“Your decision to withdraw at the last moment — explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure — is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution,” Grenell wrote.

“Regrettably, your action surrenders to the sad bullying tactics employed by certain elements on the left, who have sought to intimidate artists into boycotting performances at our national cultural center,” he added.

Grenell further noted that attendance for the Jazz Jam — which Redd has hosted for several years — had been significantly underperforming compared to other holiday programming at the venue.

“The contrast between the public’s lack of interest in your show with the success we are experiencing under our new chairman is drastic,” the Trump administration official wrote.

“The most avant-garde and well-regarded performers in your genre will still perform regularly, and unlike you, they’ll do it to sold out crowds regardless of their political leanings,” Grenell said, per The Post.

According to Grenell, Redd’s “dismal ticket sales and lack of donor support,” combined with the eleventh-hour cancellation, resulted in substantial financial losses for the center.

The Trump–Kennedy Center president later reinforced that message publicly on X, making clear that politically driven cancellations would not be tolerated.

“The left is boycotting the Arts because Trump is supporting the Arts,” Grenell wrote. “But we will not let them cancel shows without consequences. The Arts are for everyone — and the Left is mad about it.”

“This is your official notice that we will seek $1 million in damages from you for this political stunt,” he added.

The controversy follows a December 18 decision by the venue’s board of trustees, which unanimously voted to add President Trump’s name to the building — a move that sparked backlash from critics on the cultural left.

“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd said in a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Other high-profile artists have taken similar actions. Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, and several others previously announced they would no longer stage productions or events at the venue, citing opposition to Trump’s restructuring of the center’s board — including his appointment of himself as chairman, according to The Post.

Trump–Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi sharply criticized those decisions, arguing they betray the core mission of public art.

“Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn’t courageous or principled — they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people,” Daravi told The Post.

“Art is a shared cultural experience meant to unite, not exclude,” she continued. “The Trump Kennedy Center is a true bipartisan institution that welcomes artists and patrons from all backgrounds — great art transcends politics, and America’s cultural center remains committed to presenting popular programming that inspires and resonates with all audiences.”