Several high-profile performances at Washington’s Kennedy Center have been canceled following the addition of U.S. President Donald Trump’s name to the institution.
On Monday, the veteran jazz ensemble Cookers announced it would withdraw from its New Year’s Eve concerts. In a statement, the group said, “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, expression, and the full human voice.” The ensemble emphasized its long history of performing music shaped by these values.
The Kennedy Center had originally promoted Cookers’ shows as “an all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul.” The cancellation follows a growing list of performers who have pulled out since the center’s board voted to rename the venue as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly called the Trump Kennedy Center.
Richard Grenell, appointed as president of the Kennedy Center by Trump, described the withdrawals as a “form of derangement syndrome,” arguing that the cancellations are largely by artists booked under previous leadership. He has labeled such decisions a “political stunt.”
The controversy began after the center’s board, filled with allies of the Republican president following a broad takeover earlier this year, approved the name change. Critics, including Democrats and the Kennedy family, have called the move illegal and said it undermines the legacy of John F. Kennedy.
Other recent cancellations include a Christmas Eve jazz concert, which musician Chuck Redd attributed to the name change, and performances by the New York dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, who withdrew from two April shows.
Supporters of Trump argue that the renaming reflects the president’s broader efforts to reshape Washington institutions and counter what he views as liberal bias. Critics contend that the changes compromise the credibility and independence of the Kennedy Center, turning the cultural venue into a politically charged platform.
The controversy has sparked nationwide debate over the politicization of arts institutions. Artists and cultural leaders have expressed concern that the addition of Trump’s name creates a conflict between artistic freedom and political influence, potentially affecting programming decisions and audience trust.
As the Kennedy Center faces these high-profile cancellations, discussions continue about the role of politics in publicly funded cultural institutions and the balance between honoring historical figures and current political leaders.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions in the U.S. arts community, where decisions about leadership and naming can carry significant cultural and political implications. For now, the future of scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center remains uncertain as the institution navigates both public criticism and artist withdrawals.