A longtime Christmas Eve tradition at Washington’s iconic performing arts venue has come to an abrupt halt after its host pulled out in protest over a controversial name change tied to President Trump.
The annual Christmas Eve jazz concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — a free holiday staple for more than 20 years — was canceled after jazz musician Chuck Redd said he could not move forward following the decision to add President Trump’s name to the building.
Last week, the center’s board of directors, now chaired by Donald Trump, voted unanimously to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center, a move that immediately sparked backlash across the arts world.
“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 told the Associated Press.
Redd, a respected drummer and vibraphone player, has been hosting the Christmas Eve jazz concert for decades and said the decision was deeply personal. He later told CNN that he had been performing at the Kennedy Center since the very start of his career and was saddened by the rebrand.
The concert, which was scheduled to be livestreamed as well as open to the public, was officially marked “canceled” on the Trump-Kennedy Center’s website by Wednesday.
Neither the venue nor Redd responded to additional requests for comment.
Trump, speaking to reporters last week, said he was “surprised” by the board’s decision to rename the center after him and described the move as an honor. However, he had previously hinted that a name change was coming and even referred to the venue as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” earlier this month.
The rebranding has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and arts advocates, who argue that the board does not have the legal authority to rename a memorial dedicated to former President John F. Kennedy.
Tensions escalated earlier this year when Trump, shortly after being sworn into his second term, removed all board members appointed by former President Joe Biden. He then installed himself as chairman and named ally Ric Grenell as interim executive director.
The fallout has rippled across the entertainment industry. “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and several other artists have announced they will no longer stage productions, concerts, or events at the venue in response to the board’s actions.
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BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TWO can play the cancel game… CANCEL worldwide all contracts with jazz musician Chuck Redd, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and several other artists…
The left will do anything to President Trump and get by with it. But yes maybe your right if the left stops something President Trump is trying to do, then they shouldn’t be allowed to do exactly what they stop Trump from doing. Play their same game President Trump and start with congress and a new law. President can’t do something then left can’t either. They seem to have a problem when you play by their own games. They can dish it out but they sure as hell can’t take it when giving it back. Wait they will just call another judge and get them right democrats. They hide behind so many people it’s pathetic. It’s ok they do it but no one else can. Talk about childish temper tantrum’s. Glad the adults are back in charge. If I recall only thing democrats have ever done is get richer and more powerful for themselves and those who play ball with them. The middle class and poor have always been an eye sore unless it was election time. But really they didn’t need us then either because they just rigged the right elections to serve their purpose. Right Mitch and Graham? Remember evil always loses in the end. Truth matters democrats which you have no clue about that word. God Bless President Trump and his administration.