The cancellation followed the White House’s decision last week to rename the center in honor of US President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
The newly added lettering for US President Donald Trump's name is displayed at the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, US, December 19, 2025(photo credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
DECEMBER 28, 2025
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Venue President Richard Grenell has reportedly demanded $1 million dollars in damages from musician Chuck Redd who cancelled the center’s traditional Christmas Eve performance on Wednesday.
The cancellation followed the White House’s decision last week to rename the center in honor of US President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” AP said, quoting an email written to them by Redd, adding that the cancelled Christmas Eve performance was a popular tradition which was why “it was one of the many reasons that it was very sad to have had to cancel.”
Grenell had reportedly written a letter to Redd, which was shared with AP, slamming his decision to withdraw and cancel the performance at the last minute in response to the Center's renaming as "classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution."
The letter also claimed that Grenell would demand $1 million dollars from Redd over the “political stunt,” according to AP.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Venue President Richard Grenell has reportedly demanded $1 million dollars in damages from musician Chuck Redd who cancelled the center’s traditional Christmas Eve performance on Wednesday.
The cancellation followed the White House’s decision last week to rename the center in honor of US President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” AP said, quoting an email written to them by Redd, adding that the cancelled Christmas Eve performance was a popular tradition which was why “it was one of the many reasons that it was very sad to have had to cancel.”
Grenell had reportedly written a letter to Redd, which was shared with AP, slamming his decision to withdraw and cancel the performance at the last minute in response to the Center's renaming as "classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution."
The letter also claimed that Grenell would demand $1 million dollars from Redd over the “political stunt,” according to AP.
US President Donald Trump participates in NORAD Santa tracker phone calls, on Christmas Eve, from the Mar-a-lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak)
Kennedy Center renamed 'Trump Kennedy Center'“The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to name the institution The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi announced in a statement released following the vote.
"The new Trump Kennedy Center reflects the unequivocal bipartisan support for America’s cultural center for generations to come.”
The Center did not respond to questions regarding whether congressional approval was sought out or required for the name change.
Trump expressed that he was “honored” and “surprised” by the board's decision during an event in the Oval Office later that day.
“We saved the building,” he later remarked. “The building was in such bad shape, both physically and financially, and in every other way.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
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