Trump to host Kennedy Center Honors as 2025 honorees unveiled
President Donald Trump announced the recipients of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday, marking the first class named since he took on the arts complex this year and signaling a notable shift: he will serve as the ceremony’s host.
From the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations, Trump revealed the five honorees by unveiling portraits draped in velvet. The class includes glam metal band Kiss, Broadway and West End star Michael Crawford, country icon George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, and disco-pop legend Gloria Gaynor. The ceremony is set for December 7 and will be broadcast on CBS.
Earlier in the event, it was disclosed that Tom Cruise was offered the honors but declined due to scheduling conflicts, according to multiple Kennedy Center employees who requested anonymity. A spokesperson for Cruise did not comment.
Trump didn’t hide his eagerness to receive the award himself but joked that he’d been denied one in the past. “I waited and waited and waited, and I said, ‘The hell with it, I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor,’” he quipped, drawing laughter from a crowd that included Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and White House staff. “Next year, we’ll honor Trump, okay?”
The announcement drew mixed reactions, with critics noting the center’s evolving trajectory under Trump’s chairmanship. In the months leading up to the reveal, there was public talk that the honorees might skew toward artists with broader mainstream appeal, and Trump suggested during a board meeting in March that the center would diversify beyond familiar names—potentially honoring deceased icons and broadening to athletes, business luminaries, and politicians. Trump said he was “very involved” in the selection, claiming he was about 98 percent involved and noting he “had a couple of wokesters” in the mix before finalizing the lineup.
Among the honorees, the background of some draws attention. Gloria Gaynor, known for “I Will Survive,” rose to fame in the 1970s disco era and has become a symbol of resilience for many marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. Michael Crawford, famed for his work on Broadway and the West End, is widely associated with the role that Trump has long admired, notably in the Phantom of the Opera. Sylvester Stallone has been a vocal Trump supporter, delivering a warm-up speech for the president at Mar-a-Lago where he called Trump a “second George Washington.” George Strait, a country icon, has historically offered a more reticent approach to politics. Kiss brings rock and spectacle, though bassist Gene Simmons has publicly clashed with Trump in recent years.
The decision to host the ceremony has sparked both attention and tension. Some artists reportedly have hesitated to participate amid the political spotlight surrounding the Center and the broader arts world. In a related development, Done+Dusted, the production company that had produced several recent Kennedy Center Honors and other major events, pulled out of this year’s production, and longtime project leads resigned from their posts as the center navigates organizational changes. There has also been talk of potential changes to the honors themselves, including redesigned medallions and a possible relocation of the State Department dinner to the White House.
Outside the center, a small group of demonstrators gathered to protest Trump’s involvement in the arts, highlighting ongoing debates about politics and culture at national cultural institutions.
As the celebration approaches, the Kennedy Center faces questions about attendance and which artists will perform on the night. The show typically involves 70 or more performers, and last year’s lineup included high-profile figures who were openly critical of Trump. With a shifting roster and a new host at the helm, expectations are high for an event that aims to honor extraordinary achievements across genres while navigating a politically charged climate.
Summary and outlook: The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors blend a mix of established legends across rock, theater, country, film, and pop. Trump’s role as host marks a new era for the ceremony, and the Center’s ongoing changes—production shifts, potential medallion redesigns, and questions about performer participation—will shape how the event is perceived and received by audiences nationwide. The lineup itself emphasizes enduring cultural impact, from Broadway to country stages to the skylines of rock and disco. If the ceremony achieves its goal of celebrating artistic excellence across diverse genres, it could offer a hopeful note of unity and achievement in an era of political polarization.