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President Trump presented the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors medals to five recipients during a White House ceremony Saturday, describing them as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” in the program’s history.
This year’s honorees include actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. During the Oval Office ceremony, Trump expressed his personal connection to the recipients, saying, “I know most of them and I’ve been a fan of all of them.”
“This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted and unified millions and millions of Americans,” the tuxedo-clad president said.
The ceremony marks a significant shift in Trump’s relationship with the Kennedy Center. During his first term, Trump largely ignored the institution and its prestigious awards program. Since returning to office in January, however, he has instituted sweeping changes, including ousting the center’s board of trustees and replacing them with Republican supporters who subsequently voted him in as chairman.
Trump has also publicly criticized the center’s programming and appearance, vowing major overhauls to both.
One notable change introduced this year is a redesigned medal created and donated by Tiffany & Co. The new gold disc features the Kennedy Center’s image and rainbow colors on one side, with the honoree’s name and ceremony date on the reverse. It replaces the large rainbow ribbon with three gold plates that had been used since the program’s inception in 1978.
During the presentation, country music legend George Strait was first to receive his medal. When Strait began removing his signature cowboy hat, Trump quipped, “If you want to leave it on, you can. I think we can get it through.” Strait removed it anyway before accepting the honor.
Trump praised each recipient individually, calling Crawford a “great star of Broadway” for his lead role in “The Phantom of the Opera” and describing Gaynor as “the disco queen… nobody did it like Gloria Gaynor.”
The president was particularly effusive about Stallone, a personal friend, calling him a “wonderful” and “spectacular” person, “one of the true, great movie stars” and “one of the great legends.” He described Kiss simply as an “incredible rock band.”
Songs by Gaynor and Kiss played in the Rose Garden as journalists awaited the ceremony’s start.
Trump claimed significant personal involvement in selecting this year’s honorees, stating in August that he was “about 98% involved” in the process. This represents another departure from tradition, as selections were previously made by a bipartisan committee.
“These are among the greatest artists, actors and performers of their generation. The greatest that we’ve seen,” Trump said. “Each of you has made an indelible mark on American life and together you have defined entire genres and set new standards for the performing arts.”
Following the medal presentation, Trump attended the annual State Department dinner for the honorees, another event where he instituted changes by moving the medallion presentation to the White House.
The Kennedy Center Honors program itself, featuring tribute speeches and performances for each recipient, will be taped Sunday at the performing arts center for broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. Trump plans to attend with First Lady Melania Trump and has indicated he will host the show—another unprecedented move, as no president has ever served as host.
“It’s going to be something that I believe, and I’m going to make a prediction: This will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done,” Trump said.
During his remarks, Trump also took aim at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose ABC program was briefly suspended earlier this year following controversial comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The two have been vocal critics of each other.
“I’ve watched some of the people that host. Jimmy Kimmel was horrible,” Trump said. “If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.”
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors represent both recognition of artistic excellence and the latest chapter in Trump’s transformation of one of America’s most prestigious cultural institutions.
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14 Comments
This is a shift from Trump’s previous stance, but it’s positive that he’s recognizing the importance of the Kennedy Center Honors. Hopefully it leads to more productive collaboration.
Interesting to see Trump award the Kennedy Center Honors after his past criticism of the institution. I wonder if this signals a more collaborative approach from him going forward.
It will be interesting to see if the new board members he appointed make substantive changes to the center’s programming and operations.
The Kennedy Center Honors are a prestigious accolade, and it’s positive that Trump is acknowledging the achievements of this year’s honorees. Regardless of past tensions, this seems like a step in the right direction.
I wonder if this is an attempt by Trump to mend fences with the arts and entertainment community after past tensions. The honorees seem well-deserving of the recognition.
It will be worth watching to see if this marks a change in the president’s approach to the Kennedy Center and its programs going forward.
The Kennedy Center Honors have long been seen as a prestigious accolade. It’s interesting to see Trump take a more active role in the proceedings after his prior distance from the institution.
I’m curious to see if this marks a shift in the administration’s relationship with the arts and cultural community more broadly.
The recipients seem like a talented and diverse group. I’m curious to learn more about their specific contributions that led to this prestigious recognition.
It’s good to see the president acknowledge their accomplishments and impact, even if his relationship with the Kennedy Center has been rocky.
It’s good to see Trump recognize the importance of the Kennedy Center Honors and the contributions of these talented artists and performers. Hopefully this signals a more collaborative approach.
I’m interested to see if the new board members he’s appointed will make any substantive changes to the center’s programming and operations.
This seems like a savvy political move by Trump to reach out to the entertainment industry and arts community. The honorees are certainly deserving of the recognition.
While Trump has been critical of the Kennedy Center in the past, it’s good to see him honoring these accomplished artists and performers. Recognizing their contributions is important.