In a significant departure from decades of tradition, President Donald Trump took centre stage as the host of the annual Kennedy Center Honours on Sunday. The event, which celebrates luminaries of American arts and culture, saw the president actively commanding the ceremony rather than observing from the presidential box, a first in the event's history.
A Historic Break from Presidential Protocol
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, named for a Democratic predecessor, has become a focal point in President Trump's broader critique of what he terms "woke" anti-American culture since his return to office in January. This marks the first time a sitting president has hosted the ceremony, a role previously filled by figures like journalist Walter Cronkite and comedian Stephen Colbert. Notably, Trump skipped the honours entirely during his first term.
When asked about his preparation upon arrival, the president was characteristically off-the-cuff. "I didn't really prepare very much," Trump stated. "I have a good memory, so I can remember things, which is very fortunate. But just, I wanted to just be myself. You have to be yourself. Johnny Carson, he was himself." He revealed in August that he had agreed to host and later mentioned it was "at the request of a certain television network," predicting the December 23rd broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ would achieve record ratings.
Celebrating Pop Culture Icons
The 2025 class of honourees represents major figures in American pop culture. They include actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, recognised for his iconic "Rocky" and "Rambo" films; disco legend Gloria Gaynor, famed for the feminist anthem "I Will Survive"; and the rock band Kiss, celebrated for their theatrical makeup and pyrotechnic stage shows. Country music superstar George Strait and Tony Award-winning actor Michael Crawford were also honoured.
The ceremony held poignant significance for Kiss, following the death of original lead guitarist Ace Frehley in October after a fall. Band co-founder Gene Simmons shared on the red carpet that President Trump had assured him an empty chair would be present in Frehley's memory.
Reactions from the honourees were uniformly humble. Stallone described the experience as being in the "eye of a hurricane," while Crawford noted it was "humbling, especially at the end of a career." Gaynor said the recognition "feels like a dream" and represented "the pinnacle."
Political Undertones and Cultural Clashes
The event unfolded against a backdrop of political and cultural tension. President Trump has fundamentally reshaped the Kennedy Center, ousting its leadership and stacking its board of trustees with Republican supporters, who subsequently elected him chair. He has criticised both its programming and architecture, and secured over $250 million from Congress for renovations, while jesting about renaming it the "Trump Kennedy Center."
Trump has stated he was deeply involved in selecting the 2025 honourees, rejecting some proposals for being "too woke." While Stallone is a known Trump supporter, the political leanings of other guests varied. Federal Election Commission records show Gaynor has donated to Republican causes, and Simmons spoke favourably of Trump in 2016. However, Simmons later criticised him, and fellow Kiss member Paul Stanley denounced Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and called the January 6th rioters "terrorists," though he urged unity after Trump's 2024 victory.
The ceremony represents a complex moment where art, celebrity, and politics intersect, continuing a tradition where presidents sometimes honour artists with opposing views, but now with the commander-in-chief firmly in the director's chair.
