The Kennedy Center president has sharply condemned musician Chuck Redd for canceling a Christmas Eve performance after the White House announced that President Donald Trump's name would be added to the venue.

Richard Grenell, who heads the center, called Redd’s last-minute withdrawal “classic intolerance” and warned that it caused significant financial loss to the non-profit arts institution. Grenell said he plans to seek $1 million in damages over what he described as a “political stunt.”

Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player, has led the Kennedy Center’s holiday “Jazz Jams” since 2006. He told the Associated Press that he canceled the concert after noticing the name change on the Kennedy Center website and the building itself. He described the decision as “very sad,” noting that the event often featured student musicians and had become a popular holiday tradition.

The Kennedy Center was originally named in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The recent renaming honoring Trump was approved by a board selected by Trump, raising legal concerns. Scholars say the change may violate federal law, which prohibits adding another person’s name to the center. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of the late president, has vowed to remove Trump’s name once he leaves office.

The controversy has stirred debate over the legality and appropriateness of renaming a national cultural landmark, with former congressional historians noting that any changes would require approval by Congress.