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A planned Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has been canceled following a controversial decision to rename the iconic performing arts institution to include the name of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump. The cancellation has sparked national debate over politics, arts institutions, and presidential influence.
The longtime annual performance, known as the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam, was hosted by renowned musician Chuck Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player who has led the event since 2006. According to the Kennedy Center’s official website, the event was listed as “Christmas Eve Jazz Jam (Canceled)” late Wednesday. Redd later confirmed that the cancellation was directly tied to the board’s decision to change the institution’s name.
“I did choose to cancel our Kennedy Center Christmas Eve Jazz Jam when I saw the name change happening last Friday,” Redd said, according to CNN. He also indicated that he does not currently plan to reschedule the performance. The Associated Press was the first to report on the cancellation, which quickly drew widespread attention due to the political implications surrounding the decision.
The controversy stems from a recent vote by the Kennedy Center’s board to rename the landmark The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, informally referred to as the Trump Kennedy Center. The move shocked many Democrats and arts advocates, raising questions about the legality and appropriateness of altering the name of a federally recognized cultural institution.
Earlier this year, President Trump carried out a broad takeover of the Kennedy Center’s leadership. He removed board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, appointed allies to the board, assumed the role of chairman, and installed longtime ally Richard Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, as the center’s president.
Trump has long expressed interest in placing his name on prominent buildings and reshaping Washington institutions. Critics argue that these actions undermine the independence of traditional U.S. cultural organizations and politicize the arts, while Trump maintains that he is addressing what he describes as entrenched liberal bias within such institutions.
The cancellation of the Christmas Eve jazz concert highlights growing tensions between politics and culture, and underscores how leadership changes at major arts venues can have immediate and tangible consequences for artists, audiences, and longstanding traditions.
