Trump's Name on Kennedy Center Sparks Outrage, Cancels 20-Year Christmas Concert Tradition

The music died this Christmas at the Kennedy Center. In a potent act of protest against the addition of Donald Trump's name to the iconic arts venue, a beloved 20-year holiday jazz tradition has been abruptly silenced.

A Concert Canceled in Protest

Musician and host Chuck Redd abruptly called off the annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam, a free concert that has been a staple at the Washington, D.C. venue since 2006. The cancellation came after the Kennedy Center was controversially rebranded to include Trump's name. In a separate email to CNN, Redd confirmed he shelved this year's edition when he “saw the name change happening last Friday.”

The 'Trump Kennedy Center' Controversy

The controversy erupted last week when the name 'Donald J. Trump' was added above 'John F. Kennedy' on the building's exterior. The center's website now also refers to the venue as the 'Trump Kennedy Center'. According to the Associated Press, the move prompted widespread backlash, including a lawsuit from Democratic Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty. Beatty says the change is illegal, as law prohibits the center from being a memorial to anyone other than President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. Kennedy's niece, Kerry Kennedy, has also stated she will work to remove Trump’s name from the building after he leaves office.

A Year of Political Friction

This isn't the first Kennedy Center-related controversy of the year. Earlier in 2025, Trump installed himself as the chairman of the board of trustees, a move that drew criticism from the arts community. In February, producer and star Issa Rae backed out of a planned appearance, telling her followers it was “due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds.”