After President Donald J. Trump‘s name was added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., jazz musician Chuck Redd cancelled a Christmas Eve performance at the national memorial building.
Richard Grenell, the President and Executive Director of the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, said the organization is going to sue Redd for $1 million for cancelling. Grenell wrote in a letter to Redd: “Regrettably, your action surrenders to the sad bullying tactics employed by certain elements on the left, who have sought to intimidate artists into boycotting performances at our national cultural center.”
On Tuesday, Grenell reported on social media: “I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from @CNN and The @washingtonpost encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center. The legacy media are left wing activists – and they are open about it.”
I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from @CNN and The @washingtonpost encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center.
The legacy media are left wing activists – and they are open about it.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 30, 2025
While MAGA celebrities are offering support and help — actor Randy Quaid said “Evil. People have no idea how low Warners [sic] Brothers will go!” and country music singer John Rich offered to perform “a special song for the liberal nut jobs” at the Center — non-MAGA supporters are pushing Grenell to provide evidence of his claim.
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) replied: “Show us the emails. You lie.” Former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) replied, “This should be easy enough to prove…”
Former Washington Post editor Lois Romano replied: “That would be a firing offense. Please produce the proof.”
Retired US Navy Intelligence Officer and military families advocate Travis Akers replied with snark: “First, this story is false. Secondly, even if it were true, I don’t think ‘Bedtime Stories with Kevin Sorbo’ or ‘Catturd Sings 80s Commercial Jingles’ was going to be widely attended anyway.”