A wave of artistic protest has hit Washington's premier performing arts venue following its controversial renaming. Several prominent artists and ensembles have cancelled scheduled performances at the centre, now known as the Trump-Kennedy Center, voicing strong disapproval of the inclusion of US President Donald Trump's name alongside the late President John F. Kennedy.
Jazz and Dance Groups Lead the Boycott
The protest gained significant momentum this week with major cancellations. The Cookers, a veteran jazz ensemble, announced with "deep regret" that they would not be performing their planned New Year's Eve show. While their official statement referenced jazz's roots in "struggle" and "freedom," drummer Billy Hart confirmed to The New York Times that the name change played a role.
Adding to the boycott, the New York-based Doug Varone and Dancers withdrew from a performance scheduled for April 2026. The dance company stated on Instagram that they could no longer ask their audiences to enter "this once great institution" following Trump's act of renaming.
Management Retaliation and Wider Fallout
The centre's Trump-appointed president, Richard Grenell, has responded aggressively to the cancellations. He denounced the artists, claiming they "were booked by the previous far left leadership," and labelled the boycott a "form of derangement syndrome." In a notable escalation, Grenell accused jazz musician Chuck Redd of a "political stunt" for cancelling his annual Christmas Eve performance and threatened to seek $1 million in damages.
This artistic exodus is not an isolated incident. Folk singer Kristy Lee cancelled a January 14 show, stating on social media that performing would cost her integrity. These actions follow a pattern since Trump's second term began, where he overhauled the centre's leadership and shifted its programming. The new management has cut drag shows and LGBTQ+ events while hosting conferences for the religious right. US media reports indicate a decline in ticket sales since the new board took over.
A Deepening Cultural Divide
The renaming of the Kennedy Center has ignited a fierce cultural and political battle. The move had already drawn outrage from Kennedy family members and Democratic politicians. The current artist boycott underscores the deepening divide, framing the issue as a conflict between artistic freedom and political influence. The cancellations signal a significant reputational challenge for the historic venue, as it struggles to balance its new political alignment with its role as a national arts institution.
