• The Kennedy Center is pursuing $1 million in damages from musician Chuck Redd.
• Redd canceled a concert after Trump's name was added to the venue.
• Richard Grenell, the Center's president, labeled the cancellation a political stunt.
• Democrats have voiced opposition to the name change, citing necessity for legislative approval.
• A lawsuit has been filed to contest the renaming decision.

The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has announced plans to sue jazz musician Chuck Redd for $1 million following his cancellation of a concert scheduled for Christmas Eve. Redd decided to pull out after President Donald Trump's name was added to the venue, leading Grenell to denounce the act as a "political stunt" that has "cost us considerably," according to The Hill, BBC, and NPR.

Chuck Redd has hosted annual performances at the Kennedy Center since 2006, and his decision to cancel came in response to the recent name change of the facility to the Trump-Kennedy Center. In a letter addressed to Redd, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell asserted that the cancellation reflects "intolerance" towards differing political views, emphasizing that “true artists perform for everyone," as reported by The Hill and BBC.

The renaming of the Kennedy Center has sparked considerable backlash, particularly among Democratic lawmakers. Representative Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit claiming that the change, made by a board action, requires an act of Congress due to the center’s original designation as a memorial for President John F. Kennedy. She argued that the manner in which the board acted was improper and suggested that legislative measures need to be taken to honor JFK properly, according to BBC and NPR.

As part of its response, the Kennedy Center indicated that Redd's decision not only harms the institution financially but also demonstrates a failure to uphold the role of public artists, as his cancellation denies the opportunity to unite diverse audiences. Grenell criticized the political climate surrounding the arts, stating in a social media post, “The left is boycotting the Arts because Trump is supporting the Arts,” in comments shared by The Hill and NPR.