A judge in Washington has directed the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 US for legal expenses. This ruling follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract. In 2025, Redd, an American musician known legally as Charles, withdrew from his annual role as host of the center’s free Christmas Eve concert in response to the controversial decision to include Donald Trump’s name on the building’s facade.
Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that it is unfair for individuals to have to defend against unfounded and politically motivated lawsuits brought by the Trump Administration. Redd has been a longtime performer and host at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts, but he withdrew from the event last year after Trump’s name was added to the building.
After Redd’s cancellation, the center threatened to sue him, claiming his actions were intolerant and costly to the non-profit institution. However, the lawsuit was eventually dismissed by the Washington judge due to the center’s failure to present a valid breach of contract claim.
In a separate development, a federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name was unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center. This ruling stemmed from a dispute initiated when Trump dismissed David Rubinstein, the long-serving chair of the Kennedy Center’s board. Since these changes, several prominent figures in the arts and culture sector have distanced themselves from the center or canceled planned appearances.
The letters spelling out Trump’s name have been removed from the Kennedy Center’s facade, with only “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” remaining visible. The center has confirmed plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team supports the judge’s ruling as appropriate. The Kennedy Center, which hosts over 2,000 events annually and serves as the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, continues to be a focal point in the arts and culture scene.