A judge in Washington has ruled in favor of jazz musician Chuck Redd, ordering the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to pay him over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of a lawsuit by the center against Redd for breach of contract by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.

In 2025, Charles Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his long-standing role as the host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert. This move came in protest of the center’s controversial decision to add Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade. Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated that the lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration was baseless and politically motivated.

Redd had been a regular host and performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years but withdrew last year shortly before the event due to the addition of Trump’s name to the building. The center threatened to sue Redd for his last-minute withdrawal, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by the judge for failing to present a valid breach of contract claim.

A federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center, stemming from a conflict initiated when Trump took control of the center and dismissed key personnel. Since then, several prominent figures in arts and culture have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances, including Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rimes, and Issa Rae.

The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from the facade, with only the words “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” remaining visible. The center plans to appeal the decision, while Redd’s lawyers support the judge’s ruling as appropriate. The Kennedy Center is a renowned institution that hosts over 2,000 events annually, serving as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.