President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a glamorous arrival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday night, where the President was set to host the annual Kennedy Center Honors gala.
A Glamorous Arrival and a Break with Tradition
The First Couple arrived hand-in-hand on the red carpet, both dressed in matching black-tie attire. Melania Trump wore a chic floor-length black gown, while the President was in a traditional black suit and bow tie. Their appearance marked a notable departure from precedent, as Trump became the first president to command the stage as host, rather than observing the ceremony from an Opera House box.
This follows his decision to snub the event during his first term in office. Since his return to the White House, Trump has upended decades of bipartisan support for the cultural institution. He ousted its leadership and stacked the board of trustees with Republican supporters, who subsequently elected him as chair. The President has been openly critical of the centre's programming and its appearance, even joking about renaming it the 'Trump Kennedy Center.' He has, however, secured more than $250 million from Congress for renovations to the building.
Honouring Cultural Icons from Rocky to 'I Will Survive'
The 2025 ceremony honoured a diverse group of entertainers for their lifetime contributions to American culture. The headline honorees were action legend Sylvester Stallone, recognised for his iconic roles in 'Rocky' and 'Rambo', and the rock band Kiss, celebrated for their flashy makeup and explosive stage shows.
Also receiving honours were disco icon Gloria Gaynor for her feminist anthem 'I Will Survive', country music superstar George Strait, and Tony Award-winning actor Michael Crawford. Stallone, who has served as one of Trump's Hollywood 'special ambassadors', described the experience as being in the 'eye of a hurricane,' while Crawford called it 'humbling.'
The evening was expected to be particularly emotional for Kiss, following the death of original lead guitarist Ace Frehley in October. Band co-founder Gene Simmons revealed on the red carpet that President Trump had assured him an empty chair would be placed in Frehley's memory during the ceremony.
Political Undertones and a History of Tension
The event has historically brought presidents face-to-face with artists of opposing political views, and Trump's involvement was no exception. During his first term, several honorees were openly critical of him, leading to his absence from the galas. Trump stated he was deeply involved in choosing the 2025 honorees and claimed he turned down some recommendations for being 'too woke.'
While Stallone is a known supporter, the politics of other guests varied. Kiss members have expressed mixed views: Simmons spoke favourably of Trump in 2016 but later criticised him, while Paul Stanley denounced Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, attending the ceremony, praised Trump's hosting abilities, saying, 'he is so relaxed in front of these cameras... and so funny.'
At a State Department dinner for the honorees on Saturday, Trump boasted he was hosting 'at the request of a certain television network' and predicted the CBS and Paramount+ broadcast would achieve its best ratings ever. The Kennedy Center Honors, established in 1978, remains a pinnacle of recognition for artists, even as its relationship with the presidency enters a new, more politically charged chapter.
