The Kennedy Center's annual Christmas Eve jazz concert, a tradition spanning over two decades, was canceled this year after the venue was renamed the "Trump-Kennedy Center."
Chuck Redd, the concert's long-time host, announced the cancellation as an act of protest against the White House's decision to add President Donald Trump's name to the iconic cultural institution.
The White House announced the renaming last Thursday, and the new name was promptly installed on the building's exterior the following day. Speaking to the Associated Press, Redd stated, "When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert." Redd, who has hosted the improvised jazz concert at the Kennedy Center every Christmas Eve since 2006, emphasized that he has no plans to reschedule the performance.
Redd's protest echoes a broader cultural backlash, as numerous artists have canceled their performances at the Kennedy Center since Trump's return to the White House. Many have voiced concerns over what they perceive as political interference in the center's operations.
The Associated Press reported that since his re-election, Trump has pressured the Kennedy Center to reorganize its board of trustees, appointing himself as chairman. This year, Trump also personally hosted the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, breaking the tradition of US presidents attending the event as spectators.
According to current US law, the Kennedy Center's board is prohibited from renaming the institution for another individual or adding names to its exterior without congressional approval. The center, named after the late President John F. Kennedy, has long been considered a symbol of cultural and artistic excellence in the US.
Kerry Kennedy, the late president's niece, expressed her disapproval of the renaming. She vowed to remove Trump's name from the center's exterior immediately after he leaves office.
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