The Kennedy Center’s long-standing Christmas Eve jazz concert was pulled from the calendar after the White House announced President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the venue’s title, prompting host Chuck Redd to cancel.
The Name Change and Its Fallout
Last week the White House announced that President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the Kennedy Center’s title. As a result, the building’s facade now reads “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The decision was approved by a board hand-picked by the president, a move scholars have said violates the law that names the center after President Kennedy.
Chuck Redd’s Decision
Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player who has toured with Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, has presided over the holiday “Jazz Jams” at the Kennedy Center since 2006, succeeding bassist William “Keter” Betts. He told The Associated Press in an email Wednesday:
“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.
The Kennedy Center’s website now lists the show as canceled, and the organization has not yet issued a statement.
Legal and Historical Context
President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and Congress passed a law the following year naming the center a living memorial to him. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from turning the center into a memorial for anyone else or from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior. Former House historian Ray Smock and Kennedy niece Kerry Kennedy have said that any change would require congressional approval and that the latter will work to remove Trump’s name once he leaves office.
Trump, a Republican, had been suggesting for months that he was open to changing the center’s name. He has been deeply involved with the venue, which bears the name of an iconic Democrat, by forcing out its leadership, overhauling the board, and arranging to head it. He also personally hosted this year’s Kennedy Center honors, breaking a long tradition of presidents serving only as spectators.
Reactions from the Arts Community
Since Trump returned to office, numerous artists have called off Kennedy Center performances. Notable cancellations include Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who withdrew a planned production of “Hamilton.” The cancellations reflect a broader backlash against the president’s efforts to fight what he calls “woke” culture at federal cultural institutions.
Broader Political Implications
The name change and the subsequent concert cancellation highlight the ongoing tension between the White House and cultural institutions. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy, spoke at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, underscoring the symbolic significance of the Kennedy Center in contemporary politics.
Key Takeaways
- The Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve jazz concert was canceled after Trump’s name was added to the venue’s title.
- The change was approved by a board hand-picked by the president, a move scholars say violates the memorial law.
- Several high-profile artists have withdrawn performances in response to Trump’s involvement with the center.
The cancellation marks a rare public clash between a presidential administration and a cultural landmark, raising questions about the intersection of politics, law, and the arts.
