An annual Christmas Eve jazz concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington was cancelled because the center'sDonald Trump-appointed boardadded the president's name to the building last week.
Chuck Redd, the musician who has led the show since 2006,told CNNthat he called off the show "when I sawthe name changehappening last Friday."
The center's board, which Trump filled with allies whothen elected him chairearlier this year, voted to rename the national music, arts, and culture institution after both Trump and Kennedy on Dec. 18.
More:Trump's name quickly added to facade of Kennedy Center
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decisionto rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centerfor the Performing Arts."
Democratic lawmakers who hold ex-officio board seats due to their roles in Congress argued that the vote, which the administrationclaimedwas unanimous, wasconducted improperly. An ex-officio board member, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio,filed a lawsuit Dec. 22claiming that the name change is illegal.
More:Lawmaker sues Trump, calls Kennedy Center rebrand 'flagrant violation'
Under federal law, the center's name remains the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The legislation that established the center did not give its board the ability to change its name.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Why the Kennedy Center's annual Christmas Eve jazz show was cancelled
