Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors 2025
Journey Tribune – Trump hosts Kennedy Center Honors 2025, announcing the recipients of the 48th edition in his first year leading the prestigious arts institution. This year’s event has a notable twist — Trump himself will serve as the host.
Speaking Wednesday (Aug. 13, 2025) from the Hall of Nations at the Kennedy Center, Trump unveiled five velvet-draped portraits revealing the honorees: rock band Kiss, stage legend Michael Crawford, country music icon George Strait, action star Sylvester Stallone, and disco queen Gloria Gaynor.
“I always wanted this award but could never get one,” Trump joked to a crowd that included Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and White House staff. “So I thought — why not become chairman and give myself an honor?”
A List That Balances Tradition and Surprise
While many political commentators expected Trump to steer the awards toward conservative favorites, the 2025 list still reflects the Kennedy Center’s tradition — honoring an A-list actor, a rock legend, a Broadway star, and a music icon.
Trump said he was heavily involved in the selection process.
“I’d say I was 98 percent involved. Every name went through me,” he said. “We had a couple of wokesters. Now we have great people. This is very different than it used to be.”
Trump’s Connections to the Honorees
- Kiss – Bassist Gene Simmons once supported Trump but later criticized his presidency for deepening political divides. Trump previously fired Simmons during season one of The Celebrity Apprentice.
- Gloria Gaynor – Famous for her hit I Will Survive, a song embraced by the LGBTQ+ community and added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2015. Gaynor has kept a low political profile.
- Michael Crawford originated the title role in The Phantom of the Opera, one of Trump’s favorite musicals, often played at his rallies.
- Sylvester Stallone – A vocal Trump supporter, Stallone compared the president to “a mythical character” and “the second George Washington” during a Mar-a-Lago speech.
- George Strait – Country music legend who rarely shares political opinions.
Behind-the-Scenes Changes Under Trump
Since becoming Kennedy Center chairman, Trump has vowed to remove “woke political programming” and restore the venue as “the premier stage for the performing arts anywhere in the world.”
Reported changes include:
- A potential redesign of the iconic medal by Tiffany & Co.
- Moving the annual State Department dinner to the White House.
- The exit of production company Done+Dusted, along with two senior producers.
Protests and Boycotts
Outside the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, a dozen protesters gathered with signs and bullhorns. They opposed Trump’s involvement in the arts. Critics say that since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has targeted major cultural institutions. These include the Smithsonian and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Some artists have already announced they will boycott the event, raising questions about who will perform during the televised ceremony. The absence of big-name entertainers has fueled speculation that artists like Lee Greenwood, Village People, or Kid Rock could fill the stage.
Ceremony Date and Broadcast
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors will take place on December 7, 2025, and will be broadcast later by CBS. Traditionally, the event features star-studded performances celebrating each honoree’s legacy.
For more about the history and past honorees of the Kennedy Center Honors, visit the official Kennedy Center website.
