Jazz Ensemble Cancels Kennedy Center New Year’s Eve Shows After Trump Renaming Sparks Backlash

A renowned veteran jazz group has become the latest artist to withdraw from performances at Washington’s Kennedy Center following its controversial renaming to include U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday, the Cookers jazz ensemble announced it was canceling its scheduled New Year’s Eve concerts, citing concerns tied to the decision to add Trump’s name to the historic arts institution.

In a public statement, the Cookers emphasized the cultural and historical roots of jazz, describing it as music born from struggle and an enduring demand for freedom of expression. The ensemble, whose members have decades-long careers in jazz, said those values remain central to their identity and artistic choices. The Kennedy Center had previously promoted the performances as an appearance by an “all-star jazz septet” expected to deliver a high-energy, soulful show at the Terrace Theater.

The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to media requests for comment regarding the cancellation. However, Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump ally appointed by the former president as president of the Kennedy Center, has dismissed similar artist withdrawals as a “political stunt.”

The Cookers’ decision adds to a growing wave of cancellations by artists and performers since the Kennedy Center’s board voted earlier this month to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, informally referred to as the Trump Kennedy Center. The board itself has drawn scrutiny after Trump filled it with political allies during a broad leadership overhaul earlier this year.

Other artists have taken similar actions. A Christmas Eve jazz concert was canceled last week, with musician Chuck Redd attributing the decision directly to the name change. Additionally, reports indicate that Doug Varone and Dancers, a prominent New York–based dance company, has withdrawn from two scheduled April performances.

The controversy has fueled political and cultural debate. Democratic lawmakers have labeled the renaming illegal, while members of John F. Kennedy’s family have condemned it as an affront to the late president’s legacy. Critics argue that Trump’s actions reflect a broader effort to reshape Washington institutions by installing loyalists and exerting pressure through funding. Trump, meanwhile, has defended the move as part of an effort to counter what he describes as entrenched liberal bias within major cultural organizations.