A cherished Christmas Eve tradition at Washington’s famed Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been abruptly canceled, triggering renewed debate over politics, cultural institutions and the legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The decision came after the White House announced that President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the iconic performing arts complex — a move that critics say violates federal law and undermines the center’s original purpose as a living memorial.
The annual Christmas Eve jazz concert, a beloved holiday event spanning more than two decades, was called off by its longtime host, renowned jazz musician Chuck Redd. Redd, a respected drummer and vibraphonist who has performed with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, said he made the decision shortly after learning of the controversial name change.
“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 said in a statement to The Associated Press. “It felt incompatible with the spirit of the tradition we’ve upheld for years.”
A Sudden Change to a Historic Memorial
As of last Friday, the building’s façade now reads: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The White House said the decision was approved by a newly restructured board, appointed largely by Trump himself. However, legal scholars and historians have raised serious concerns, arguing that the change directly contradicts the law governing the institution.
The Kennedy Center was established by an act of Congress in 1964, one year after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The legislation explicitly designates the center as a living memorial to Kennedy and prohibits the board of trustees from turning it into a memorial for any other individual or placing another person’s name on the building’s exterior.
Former House historian Ray Smock has stated that any alteration to the center’s name would require congressional approval. Kennedy’s niece, Kerry Kennedy, has publicly vowed to remove Trump’s name once he leaves office, calling the change an affront to her uncle’s legacy.
Artists Push Back
The cancellation of the Christmas Eve jazz concert is the latest in a growing wave of artistic resistance. Since Trump returned to office and assumed an unusually hands-on role at the Kennedy Center, several high-profile performers have withdrawn their shows in protest.
Actor and producer Issa Rae and musician Peter Wolf have both canceled appearances. Composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda also scrapped a planned production of Hamilton, one of the most successful and culturally influential stage works of the modern era.
The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though its official website now lists the Christmas Eve jazz concert as canceled.
Trump’s Expanding Role at the Kennedy Center
Trump, a Republican president whose political career has often clashed with arts and cultural communities, largely ignored the Kennedy Center during his first term. That changed dramatically following his return to office. He has since forced out senior leadership, overhauled the board of trustees, arranged for himself to serve as its head and personally hosted this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
This marks a sharp break from longstanding tradition, in which presidents typically attended the honors as guests rather than hosts. Critics argue that these moves are part of Trump’s broader campaign against what he has repeatedly labeled “woke” culture within federally supported institutions.
Supporters of the president counter that the changes are necessary to rebalance cultural spaces they believe have become ideologically one-sided. Still, the backlash from artists suggests that the controversy has already had tangible consequences for the center’s programming and reputation.
A Holiday Tradition Lost
For many jazz lovers in Washington and beyond, the cancellation of the Christmas Eve concert carries emotional weight beyond politics. Redd had been presiding over the Kennedy Center’s holiday “Jazz Jams” since 2006, taking over from legendary bassist William “Keter” Betts. Over the years, the event became a symbol of continuity, community and artistic excellence during the holiday season.
“This concert was about joy, generosity and bringing people together through music,” said one longtime attendee, who asked not to be named. “It’s heartbreaking to see it end like this.”
A Cultural Crossroads
As debates over legality, legacy and political influence intensify, the Kennedy Center now finds itself at a crossroads. What was designed as a unifying national memorial is increasingly becoming a flashpoint in America’s culture wars. Whether Congress intervenes or future administrations reverse course remains to be seen.
For now, one thing is clear: the addition of Trump’s name has already reshaped the institution — not through new performances or expanded access, but through cancellations, protests and a deepening divide between politics and the arts.
