Jazz Musician Chuck Redd Seeks Dismissal of ‘Trump Kennedy Center’ Lawsuit Against Him Over Canceled Christmas Eve Gig

Renowned vibraphonist and drummer Chuck Redd is seeking to have a breach-of-contract lawsuit thrown out of court. The suit was filed by The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after Redd withdrew from its long-standing Christmas Eve Jazz Jam concert in December. His withdrawal was a direct protest of the institution's controversial renaming, which added former President Donald Trump's name to the iconic venue in late 2025. Redd had performed in the annual concert for over two decades.

In a motion filed in D.C. Superior Court, Redd's attorneys argue the case is fundamentally flawed. They assert that no formal contract was ever finalized, as a draft agreement sent on December 9 was voided by a center employee before Redd even had a chance to review or sign it. Furthermore, the legal team is invoking Washington D.C.'s robust Anti-SLAPP Act, which protects free speech by allowing for the early dismissal of lawsuits intended to silence public participation. "This is a textbook example of a strategic lawsuit against public participation," said attorney Debra S. Katz. "The center suffered no financial loss from a free concert, making their claim for damages particularly specious."

The conflict ignited publicly on December 24 when Redd explained his decision to the Associated Press, citing the sudden appearance of the new name on the building and website. The response from then-center president Richard Grenell was swift and severe. Grenell, a former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence under President Trump, accused Redd of "intolerance" and threatened to pursue $1 million in damages. According to court filings, the Kennedy Center later proposed a settlement requiring a $7,500 payment and a promise of future apolitical performances, which Redd refused.

This legal skirmish is just one facet of deep turmoil surrounding the Kennedy Center. The renaming itself faces a separate federal challenge led by Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who contends it violates the 1964 law that established the center as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and explicitly prohibits adding other names. This legal precedent adds significant weight to the argument that the name change was unauthorized from the start. Compounding the instability, former President Trump has announced a planned two-year closure for a "complete rebuilding" starting in 2026, a move that alarms architectural preservationists given the building's status as a national cultural landmark. Leadership has also been unstable, with Matt Floca, formerly vice president of facilities, taking over as president in March after Grenell's departure. While the center's PR VP expressed confidence in the board's decisions, the institution declined to comment on Redd's motion, leaving the next move to the courts.