A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. The decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by the same judge, Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist also known as Charles, withdrew from his annual role as host of the center’s free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the inclusion of Donald Trump’s name on the building. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated, “No individual should have to defend against unfounded and politically motivated lawsuits brought by the Trump Administration.”
Redd, who has been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, canceled his appearance last year after Trump’s name was added to the building. The center threatened to sue Redd for withdrawing at the last minute, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by the Washington judge due to the center’s failure to present a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name was unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center, stemming from a conflict initiated when Trump assumed control of the center and dismissed longtime chair David Rubinstein. Subsequently, multiple artists have distanced themselves from the center or canceled planned performances.
Despite the removal of Trump’s name from the facade of the Kennedy Center, the center plans to appeal the decision. Redd’s legal team praised the judge’s ruling as appropriate, asserting that the Trump-influenced center attempted to suppress opposition to the name change through a baseless lawsuit. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains a prominent institution in Washington.
