President Donald Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, marking the first time a sitting president has served as master of ceremonies for the prestigious event. Trump claimed the show was receiving 'rave reviews' even before it concluded, joking about renaming the venue the 'Trump-Kennedy Center'.
Trump, who had avoided the Kennedy Center during his first term, has since taken control of the institution as part of his broader critique of what he calls 'woke' anti-American culture. The Honors honour lifetime achievement in the performing arts, and Trump's involvement underscores his effort to dominate America's cultural space.
The evening featured tributes to Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, and the band Kiss. Trump entered to the Rocky theme music and praised the honourees for their persistence, though he also remarked that some audience members were 'miserable, horrible people' but 'persistent'.
The audience included notable figures such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The ceremony concluded with performances by Garth Brooks and Cheap Trick.
