In brief
President Donald Trump honored the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in a ceremony at the Oval Office, a departure from previous practices where such events occurred during a State Department dinner. This year’s recipients included notable artists such as Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and Michael Crawford. Trump, who has made significant changes to the Kennedy Center since resuming office, announced that he was heavily involved in selecting the honorees. The televised Kennedy Center Honors program will air later in December.
WASHINGTON (PulseWire) — President Donald Trump on Saturday hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in the Oval Office, marking a significant change in the traditional ceremony format.
This year, the honorees include famed actor Sylvester Stallone, iconic singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Unlike his first term, Trump is now taking an active role in the awards process after ousting the Kennedy Center board and placing his supporters in key positions.
The selection process for this year’s honorees raised eyebrows; Trump claimed he was 'about 98% involved' in choosing them, diverging from the past practice where a bipartisan committee made the selections.
Later that evening, Trump was set to attend a State Department dinner for the honorees, where traditionally the medallions are presented. However, this year’s presentation took place at the White House, suggesting Trump’s desire to take control of the event’s proceedings.
The ceremonial aspect of the Kennedy Center Honors will continue with events taped at the center, featuring tribute performances for the honorees, set to be broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. In an unusual twist, Trump will attend the program for the first time as president, reportedly accompanied by first lady Melania Trump.
Reflecting on the host role, Trump remarked, 'I’m the president of the United States. Are you fools asking me to do that?' indicating some initial hesitation before agreeing to participate.
Just days before the ceremony, Trump was seen at the Kennedy Center, engaging in various activities including a FIFA World Cup draw for 2026 and receiving an inaugural peace prize.
