A judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Kennedy Center team associated with Donald Trump against jazz drummer Chuck Redd. The court accepted evidence presented by Redd showing no contract existed and dismissed the case.
Origin of the Lawsuit
The dispute reportedly began after the center's management changed its name to The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Redd announced he was withdrawing from the traditional Christmas concert he had directed for years.
Court documents revealed that Redd did not sign the contract sent to him for the annual concert he had directed since 2006 and subsequently decided not to perform. The artist stated he found it inappropriate to appear on stage after seeing Trump's name on the center's website and building.
Redd's Objection and Court's Decision
In an email to the center, Redd described the name change as "illegal" and expressed discomfort about performing there. He later requested the court to dismiss the case, arguing that without a signed contract, he could not be sued.
Lawyers for Trump's team characterized Redd's public objections as a political retaliation. However, the judge rejected the lawsuit and closed the case.
Ongoing Tensions at the Center
The ruling adds to a series of cancellations and controversies following Trump's increased influence at the center in 2025. The situation has kept the institution in the spotlight amid artists' protests.
At the end of May, a federal judge ruled that only Congress has the authority to change the center's name and ordered the removal of all traces of Trump's name. The same ruling also halted the planned closure process at the center.
Trump later signaled a step back by saying he would leave decisions about the institution's future to others. On June 2, Ben Folds published an open letter calling for support of the National Symphony Orchestra.
