A growing list of event cancellations and institutional ruptures has shaken the Kennedy Center, the nation’s premier performing arts venue since its board controversially voted to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Donald Trump’s name. According to Reuters, the move — now reflected on the facility’s façade as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts — has sparked protests from musicians, dance companies and long-standing partner organizations, igniting cultural and political backlash in Washington and beyond.
Jazz ensembles, holiday traditions and multi-decade partnerships have been disrupted in response to the renaming. Veteran jazz septet The Cookers canceled two New Year’s Eve performances scheduled at the venue, citing jazz’s deep roots in freedom of expression and a refusal to endorse the renamed institution.
Meanwhile, the beloved annual Christmas Eve jazz concert — hosted for nearly two decades by vibraphonist Chuck Redd — was abruptly canceled after Redd announced he would not hold the event under the renamed center’s banner. His decision came days after the board’s vote and has since led to legal friction, with the Kennedy Center seeking US$1 million in damages for the last-minute withdrawal, People magazine reports.
Kennedy Center event cancellations mount after Trump’s name added
The cancellations extend beyond individual artists. The American College Theatre Festival, which maintained a 58-year affiliation with the center, announced it was suspending that partnership in protest of the name change, says Northern Virginia Magazine.
Dance company Doug Varone and Dancers also pulled out of performances scheduled for April, calling the decision “morally exhilarating despite the financial loss,” according to press accounts.
According to Time, industry figures and performers such as Issa Rae, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kristy Lee, and Rhiannon Giddens have publicly distanced themselves from scheduled events at the Trump-Kennedy Center, further amplifying the cultural community’s objections.
Concerns about the process and legality of the renaming
The backlash reflects broader concerns about the process and legality of the renaming itself. According to British outlet The Guardian, federal statute currently designates the venue by its original name, and critics — including Democratic lawmakers and members of President John F. Kennedy’s family — argue that only Congress has the authority to alter it.
A lawsuit has been filed challenging the board’s action as unlawful, with Rep. Joyce Beatty alleging she was muted during the renaming vote and denied an opportunity to object.
Senators and historians have warned that adding new memorial names to the center violates its founding statute as a living memorial to President Kennedy, established by Congress in 1964.
In addition to artistic boycotts, the renaming has fueled broader debate about the role of political influence in cultural institutions. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, appointed by Trump earlier in 2025 after an overhaul of the board, has defended the name change and criticized performers who have withdrawn as politically motivated.
Critics argue that the controversy has already affected public engagement: reports indicate there has been a significant drop in subscription sales and ticket purchases amid the upheaval. The Kennedy family and political leaders have maintained that the center’s legacy should remain tied exclusively to President Kennedy, as reported by The Washington Post.
Not only a name shift
This is not the sole example of Trump’s name being added to public institutions during his second term. The United States Institute of Peace, another Washington, D.C. landmark, was recently renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the State Department, underscoring the broader pattern of renaming national sites and organizations.
President Trump has included his name in war vessels and the new building on the west side of the White House will be named The Donald J. Trump Ballroom, as reported by Spanish outlet El Pais.
As the 2026 arts season approaches, the Trump-Kennedy Center faces mounting questions about its ability to attract performers and retain community trust in the wake of these cancellations and political disputes. Cultural leaders warn that rebuilding the institution’s reputation may prove more challenging than changing its signage.