In a ceremony held in the Oval Office on Saturday, December 6, 2025, President Donald Trump bestowed the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors medals upon this year's recipients. The president hailed the group, which includes actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band KISS, and actor-singer Michael Crawford, as potentially the most distinguished class in the award's history.
A New Era for the Kennedy Center Honors
The ceremony itself represented a notable departure from tradition. For the first time, the medallion presentation was moved from its usual venue at the annual State Department dinner to the White House. President Trump, dressed in a tuxedo, personally placed the new medals around each honoree's neck. The redesigned medal, a gold disc on a navy blue ribbon, was created and donated by Tiffany & Co., replacing the large rainbow ribbon design used since the honors began in 1978.
Trump praised the honorees as "incredible people" who represent the "very best in American arts and culture." He stated, "I know most of them and I’ve been a fan of all of them," adding that their work has "inspired, uplifted and unified millions and millions of Americans."
Personal Tributes to the Honorees
During the presentation, the president offered individual accolades for each recipient. He allowed country music legend George Strait to keep his cowboy hat on during the ceremony, though Strait opted to remove it. Trump celebrated Michael Crawford as a "great star of Broadway" for his iconic role in The Phantom of the Opera and hailed Gloria Gaynor as the "disco queen."
He was particularly effusive about his friend Sylvester Stallone, calling him a "wonderful" and "spectacular" person and "one of the true, great movie stars." KISS was recognized as an "incredible rock band." The president emphasized that he was deeply involved in the selection process, claiming in August to be "about 98% involved" in choosing this year's slate—a break from the traditional bipartisan committee process.
Trump's Overhaul of the Kennedy Center
This year's honors occur against the backdrop of significant changes at the Kennedy Center instituted by President Trump since his return to office in January 2025. Having largely ignored the institution during his first term, Trump has now taken a direct role, ousting its board of trustees and replacing them with Republican supporters who subsequently voted him in as chairman of the board.
He has also been critical of the center's programming and physical appearance, vowing a comprehensive overhaul. The move of the medal ceremony to the White House and his personal involvement in selecting honorees underscore this new direction.
Looking Ahead to the Gala and a Jab at Late-Night TV
The glitzy Kennedy Center Honors gala, featuring tribute performances for each recipient, is scheduled to be taped on Sunday, December 7, for broadcast later in the month on CBS and Paramount+. Trump confirmed he and First Lady Melania Trump would attend, marking his first time at the event as president. He also revealed he would serve as host—a first for any sitting president—and boldly predicted the broadcast would achieve its highest ratings ever.
In his remarks, Trump took a swipe at late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, with whom he has a well-publicized feud. "I’ve watched some of the people that host. Jimmy Kimmel was horrible," Trump said. "If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president."
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, therefore, stand not only as a celebration of artistic achievement but also as a clear signal of the Trump administration's renewed and hands-on influence over one of the nation's premier cultural institutions.