Musicians Cancel Gigs at Trump Renamed Kennedy Center in Protest
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Several musical artists are canceling performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, renamed as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” under the Trump administration. A second jazz band, the Cookers, has pulled out of a New Year’s Eve gig following this month’s controversial decision to rename the institution. The recent cancellation follows earlier exits by drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd and folk singer Kristy Lee, both attributing their withdrawal to the Center’s renaming.
Increased Boycotts at Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington DC
More artists are announcing the cancellation of their scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, which Donald Trump has attempted to rebrand as the “Trump-Kennedy Center”.
Another jazz band dropped out from a New Year’s Eve gig with just two days to spare. This week, the Cookers, a Grammy-nominated jazz septet, opted out without providing a clear reason but hinted at a struggle for artistic freedom tied to the venue’s name change.
The cancellation of this Jazz New Year’s Eve show follows a controversial decision by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to rename the organisation the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The renaming sparked significant backlash, prompting legal challenges and lead to a swift amendment adding Trump’s name to the institution’s signage. The change incited other musicians, including drummer Chuck Redd, to pull out from their scheduled gigs.
Following the cancellations, Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center president and a Trump appointee, threatened a $1m lawsuit against Redd for what he deemed a “political stunt”.
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