In brief
President Donald Trump held a medal presentation ceremony in the Oval Office for the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, marking his first formal recognition of the prestigious awards since taking office again. The honorees included Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, the band Kiss, and Michael Crawford. In past years, the honorees were selected by a bipartisan committee, but Trump stated he was heavily involved in this year’s nominations. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is set to be taped soon, with Trump attending, a first for him as president.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in the White House's Oval Office, marking a notable shift in his engagement with the arts community. This year's esteemed recipients included iconic figures such as actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the renowned rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Trump's involvement in selecting the honorees is a departure from previous years when a bipartisan committee had the responsibility.Having previously ignored the Kennedy Center's awards, Trump stated during the medal presentation that he was 'about 98% involved' in choosing the recipients. The event showcases a series of changes Trump has implemented since returning to the presidency, including remaking the center's board of trustees with supporters.As part of the Kennedy Center Honors program, which features tribute performances for each honoree, the president will attend the taping set for Sunday, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump—making it a historic occasion as no president has hosted this prestigious event before. Trump's newfound enthusiasm for the program coincides with concerns he raised about the center's programming and appearances, as he vows to make significant changes to its operations.
