A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz musician 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, an American drummer and vibraphonist also known as Charles, withdrew from his role as host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s white marble portico. Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that the lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration was baseless and politically motivated.
Redd had been a long-time host and performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts, but he canceled his appearance last year shortly after Trump’s name was displayed on 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 a lack of a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name was unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center, sparking a dispute that began when Trump dismissed the center’s long-time chair. Several figures in the arts and culture community have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances since the controversy erupted.
The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from the facade in June, with additional developments expected as the center plans to appeal the court’s decision. Redd’s lawyers view the judge’s ruling as appropriate, criticizing the center for attempting to silence opposition through legal action.
The Kennedy Center, a prominent institution hosting thousands of events annually and serving as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains at the center of ongoing legal and public scrutiny.
