Donald Trump announced the recipients of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors this morning as he recently took over as chair of the iconic arts institution’s board of trustees.
This year’s honorees are: glam rock band KISS, “Phantom of the Opera” star Michael Crawford, country music legend George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone and pop/disco singer Gloria Gaynor.
Breaking news: President Trump announced the first class of recipients of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors since he took over earlier this year.
Trump said he will host the ceremony, something no president has done.
Here are the honorees: https://t.co/9dojCfQodZ
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 13, 2025
The list is a bit more mainstream than many expected considering the takeover by Trump.
Perhaps most surprising is the inclusion of KISS bassist Gene Simmons, who expressed support for Trump during his first administration but eventually soured on the Donald. Simmons was also “fired” by Trump on the first season of his reality series, “The Apprentice.”
The inclusion of Crawford is the least surprising as Trump as often expressed his fondness for “Phantom,” playing songs from the score at his campaign rallies.
According to reports, action movie star Tom Cruise was offered the honor but he had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.
Last month, insiders were saying that Trump was considering having the award medallions, which have long featured President John F. Kennedy on one side and the building on the other, redesigned.
And the rainbow-colored ribbon – meant to represent the various artistic worlds celebrated by the honors – would be history because of Trump’s aversion to anything gay-related.
Interestingly, Trump added that he will host the ceremony, something no president has done.
You can watch part of his self-congratulatory announcement below where he insists he was begged to host the event. Amid his slurring speech, he also hints that he may give himself a Kennedy Center honor next year… #smh
“I waited and waited and waited and I said: ‘To hell with it, I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor,” adding that “maybe next year” he’ll honor himself.
In the second clip, Trump declares all of the honoree choices “came through me” and he turned down plenty of “wokesters.”
WTF: A slurring Trump just gave a bizarre, rambling address about hosting the Kennedy Center Honors – and demanded he receive a performing arts award himself. “I said, the hell with it. I’ll become chairman. And I’ll give myself an honor.”
This man is not well. pic.twitter.com/4mxMeWrtFW
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) August 13, 2025
Trump says that all of the choices for Kennedy honorees “came through me” and adds that he turned down “some wokesters” pic.twitter.com/W2ZLvy7lGv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 13, 2025
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