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 Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his long-standing 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 facade. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated that the lawsuits filed by the Trump Administration were baseless and politically motivated.
Having been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, Redd pulled out of the event last year after Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the building. Subsequently, the center threatened legal action against Redd, seeking $1 million in damages, but the lawsuit was later dismissed by the judge due to the lack of a valid breach of contract claim.
In a separate ruling, a federal judge declared the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center unlawful. This ruling was a result of the ongoing conflict that arose when Trump took charge of the center and made significant changes, including the removal of longtime chair David Rubinstein.
Following the controversy, several prominent figures in arts and culture distanced themselves from the center, such as Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae. The letters spelling out Trump’s name have since been removed from the center’s facade, with ongoing changes to restore the original name.
The Kennedy Center has expressed its intention to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team praised the ruling as appropriate. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting numerous events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains at the center of this legal dispute.