WASHINGTON (AP) — On Saturday, President Donald Trump awarded the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with their medals during a ceremony held in the Oval Office. He described the group of artists he had a significant role in selecting as “possibly the most accomplished and celebrated class” ever recognized.
This year’s honorees include actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford.
Trump praised them as “remarkable individuals” representing the “finest in American arts and culture,” adding, “I know most of them and I have been a fan of all.”
“This gathering includes icons whose works have inspired and united millions of Americans,” Trump, dressed in a tuxedo, stated. “This might be the most esteemed and distinguished class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.”
Trump’s Influence on the Kennedy Center
During his initial term, Trump overlooked the Kennedy Center’s significant awards program. However, since resuming office in January, he has implemented various changes, most notably removing its board of trustees and replacing them with supporters from his party who voted him chair. Trump has also critiqued the center’s programming and aesthetics, vowing to revamp both.
Each honoree was presented with a new medal designed and donated by Tiffany & Co. It features a gold disc with the Kennedy Center’s image and rainbow colors on one side, while the honoree’s name and the date of the ceremony appear on the other. The medallion, hung from a navy blue ribbon, replaces the larger rainbow ribbon that has been used since the program’s inception in 1978.
Celebration of the Honorees
George Strait, wearing a cowboy hat, was the first to receive his medal. When he began to remove his hat, Trump remarked, “If you want to leave it on, feel free. I think we can manage.” However, Strait decided to remove it.
Trump celebrated Crawford as a “tremendous star of Broadway” for his lead role in “Phantom of the Opera.” Regarding Gaynor, he commented, “We have our disco queen, and she truly is the best.” Trump praised his friend Stallone as “a spectacular person” and acknowledged Kiss as an “incredible rock band.”
Trump reflected on his substantial involvement in selecting the 2025 honorees, stating he was “about 98% involved” in the decisions, marking the first time honorees were announced directly by him rather than through a press release.
On the horizon, the grand Kennedy Center Honors program, featuring tribute speeches and performances for each honoree, is scheduled for taping on Sunday. Trump will attend as president for the first time alongside First Lady Melania Trump. He expressed his anticipation for the event, forecasting record-breaking ratings for the broadcast and humorously critiqued late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, asserting he could outperform Kimmel as a host.
