In a significant break with tradition, President Donald Trump took centre stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Sunday, personally hosting the prestigious 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.
A Presidential First and a Political Statement
The event marked the first time a sitting president has hosted the ceremony, which is widely regarded as the United States' highest accolade for lifetime achievement in the performing arts. President Trump, with First Lady Melania Trump by his side, used the occasion to declare he was "saving the Kennedy Center" and bringing it "back to life". His involvement follows a series of decisive actions during his second term, including firing the centre's previous president, installing a new board that appointed him as chair, and initiating a multi-million-dollar renovation overseen by his former ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell.
Honouring Stars and Shifting Symbols
This year's honorees were a mix of iconic figures from film and music: actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, disco legend Gloria Gaynor, country music king George Strait, original Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, and the rock band Kiss. In a symbolic change, Trump presented the artists with newly designed gold medallions featuring blue ribbons in the Oval Office on Saturday, replacing the rainbow-coloured ribbons used since the awards' inception in 1978. The president praised the recipients as "among the greatest artists, actors and performers of their generation".
Trump has stated he was deeply involved in selecting the 2025 honorees, even rejecting some proposals he deemed "too woke". While Stallone is a known supporter, having likened Trump to George Washington, the political leanings of other honorees are more nuanced. Federal Election Commission records show Gaynor has donated to Republican causes, and Kiss's Gene Simmons spoke favourably of Trump in 2016, though later criticised him. Bandmate Paul Stanley denounced the January 6 Capitol attack but called for unity after Trump's 2024 victory.
Controversy and a New Direction for the Kennedy Center
The president's embrace of the honours contrasts sharply with his first term, when he avoided the ceremony after some honorees, like producer Norman Lear in 2017, threatened to boycott if he attended. The institution's new direction under Grenell has been marked by staff turnover and unease in the arts community. Beyond the Kennedy Center, Trump is also reshaping the White House grounds, controversially demolishing the East Wing to construct a vast new ballroom.
The televised Kennedy Center Honors gala, featuring performances celebrating the five honorees, is scheduled to air on the CBS network on 23 December. The event underscores a blending of political power and cultural recognition, setting a new precedent for presidential involvement in one of America's most celebrated arts institutions.
