The Kennedy Center’s annual Christmas Eve jazz tradition ended abruptly on December 24, 2025, when acclaimed drummer Chuck Redd canceled after the Trump-appointed board voted to rename the institution. The moment caps a year of upheaval, artist departures, and sharp ticket sales declines at America’s premier performing arts venue. What began as a governance dispute is now a test of presidential authority, federal law, and artistic freedom, with consequences still unfolding.
A Holiday Jazz Tradition Stops Cold
Jazz drummer Chuck Redd hosted the Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve Jazz Jam annually since 2006, succeeding bassist William “Keter” Betts. On December 24, 2025, Redd emailed the Associated Press to announce cancellation. “When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” he said. The backlash quickly spread.
Trump’s Name Joins Kennedy’s Memorial
The board voted December 18, 2025, to rename it “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Workers installed Trump’s name on the exterior the next day. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credited Trump with “saving the building” financially and physically. However, the board was entirely Trump appointees, raising credibility concerns.
“Unanimous” Vote Claim Faces Pushback
The White House said the board vote was “unanimous,” but Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democratic ex-officio member, disputed it immediately. “I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move,” she wrote online. “This was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship.” Procedure questions soon became legal ones.
Lawmakers Say The Statute Is Clear
Federal law designates the Kennedy Center as “the sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs,” under Title 20, U.S. Code, Section 76q. Constitutional law professor Paul Schiff Berman said, “The statute is pretty unequivocal, and I can’t really find any loopholes in it.” Would a court agree?
Beatty Files Suit Over Name Change
Beatty filed a federal lawsuit on December 23, 2025, challenging the renaming’s legality. “This is a flagrant violation of the rule of law, and it flies in the face of our constitutional order,” the complaint said. Her team, including Washington Litigation Group and Democracy Defenders Action, sought restoration of the original name and removal of Trump signage. The fallout was already visible.
Ticket Sales Slide After February Upheaval
In February 2025, Trump removed existing board members, appointed himself chairman, and fired President Deborah Rutter. By October 2025, the Washington Post reported steep declines: about 43% of seats in the 3 largest venues went unsold in September to October. That compared with 7% unsold in 2024, 20% in 2023, and 6% in 2022.
Big Shows And Stars Start Walking
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” canceled its Spring 2026 run on March 6, 2025. “The recent shift in the Kennedy Center’s ideology and board leadership has made it untenable for a production like ‘Hamilton’ to celebrate and be celebrated there today,” Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller said. Other sales lagged too: “Parade” sold 57%, “Stayin’ Alive” sold 34%.
“Woke Programming” Fight Drives Departures
Trump said he aimed to eliminate “woke programming.” In May 2025, he stated: “The programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, DEI, and inappropriate shows. They had dance parties for queer and trans youth, and that wasn’t working out too well.” Pride Month events were canceled, as were appearances involving the Gay Men’s Chorus and “Finn.” Resignations followed.
Kennedy Family Calls It Illegal And Insulting
Kennedy relatives publicly opposed the renaming beginning December 19, 2025. Maria Shriver wrote, “It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable.” Jack Schlossberg questioned legality. Kerry Kennedy said, “President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, and compassion for those who suffer. President Trump stands in opposition to these values.” Would pressure change anything?
Kerry Kennedy Floats A Pickax Protest
Kerry Kennedy escalated with a direct-action vow online. “Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder,” she posted. “Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!” The statement mixed humor with clear intent, signaling a longer fight ahead.
Grenell Threatens Redd With $1 Million
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell answered Redd’s cancellation with a letter obtained by Fox News Digital on December 26, 2025. “Your decision to withdraw at the last moment is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution,” Grenell wrote. “This is your official notice that we will seek $1 million in damages from you for this political stunt.” Could that chill other artists?
Honors Broadcast Hits Record-Low Ratings
Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7, the first sitting president to serve as emcee. The broadcast aired December 23, drawing 2.65 million viewers, a record low for the 47-year-old ceremony and 35% below 2024’s 4.1 million. CBS News cut Trump’s 12-minute opening to 2 minutes. Staff still used “Kennedy Center Honors,” not the renamed title.
Financial Warnings Spark Internal Dispute
New CFO Donna Arduin claimed a $100 million operating deficit and $40 million debt, about $40 million (USD) in debt. Staffers contested the framing to the Washington Post, saying the figure excluded key nonprofit revenue like contributions, grants, and endowment support. Tax filings showed a $6 million profit in fiscal year 2023 and revenue over $286 million. Was the narrative shaping a takeover strategy?
Senate Probe Alleges “Cronyism” And Waste
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse opened a Senate investigation in November 2025 into Kennedy Center spending. Committee documents said FIFA received free, exclusive use of the entire campus from November 24 to December 12, 2025, costing $5,038,444 in lost revenue and disruptions. Records also cited discounts for aligned groups, luxury hotel and restaurant expenses, and contracts tied to Trump associates. What consequences could follow?
College Theater Festival Ends 58-Year Tie
The American College Theatre Festival announced December 22, 2025, it was suspending its 58-year affiliation with the Kennedy Center. Its National Committee cited “circumstances and decisions that do not align with our organization’s values.” ACTF highlighted work from over 600 colleges and universities, central to the Center’s educational identity. The break signaled reputational damage spreading beyond headline shows. Which partnerships would leave next?
Staff Turnover Adds Another Layer Of Strain
At least 10 staff members resigned after Trump’s February 2025 takeover, including Ellen Palmer, vice president of corporate engagement, and Leslie Miller, senior vice president of development. Former President Deborah Rutter defended her decade-long tenure: “I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center being made by people without the context or expertise to understand the complexities involved in nonprofit and arts management.” The institutional memory drain compounded instability.
New Bills Aim To Block Future Renamings
Maryland Representative April McClain Delaney introduced 2 bills on December 24, 2025. The Kennedy Center Protection Act would void the renaming vote, ban future renamings without Congress, and require removal of Trump signage. The Federal Property Integrity Act would bar sitting presidents from renaming federal buildings, land, or assets without Congress. Leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries also issued opposition statements. Could guardrails return?
Donor Fallout Threatens Long-Term Survival
Former Kennedy Center president Michael Kaiser, who ended his tenure in 2014 and ran surpluses, warned about compounding damage. “Depressed ticket sales not only cause a shortfall in revenue; they also bode unfavorably for future fundraising revenue. The vast majority of donors are ticket buyers anxious to enhance relationships with the organization,” he told the Washington Post. Kaiser said the Center cultivated 40,000 individual donors. Would they come back?
A Crossroads With No Easy Reset
Beatty’s lawsuit remains pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., as Congress weighs legislation and Senate investigators keep pressing for records. Kennedy family members have publicly vowed to remove Trump’s name when the administration ends, suggesting the dispute will outlast any single season. Meanwhile, the Center faces a measurable reputational hit: sales declines, artist exits, staff resignations, and about 15 cancellations. The outcome now hinges on law and public support.
Sources
Title 20, U.S. Code, Section 76q. U.S. Government Publishing Office, 1964
Ohio Lawmaker Sues Trump and Others Over Kennedy Center Name Change. Politico, December 23, 2025
Senate Democrats Launch Investigation Into Kennedy Center. Playbill, November 20, 2025
Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve Jazz Show Cancelled After Trump Name Change. TIME, December 24, 2025
Legal Expert Explains Trump-Kennedy Center Renaming Case. ABC 7 News, December 19, 2025