Trump Hosts 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in Oval Office Ceremony

Sat Dec 06 2025 23:22:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a notable change from previous years, President Trump recognized the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, including celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone and Gloria Gaynor, during a medal presentation in the Oval Office.

President Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees at a ceremony in the Oval Office, an event he largely overlooked during his first term. This year’s recipients, who include Sylvester Stallone and the band Kiss, were handpicked by Trump, marking a notable shift in the selection process. The traditional ceremony at the State Department has been replaced by this presidential event. Trump will also attend the Kennedy Center Honors program, where performances for the honorees will be broadcast later this year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in the Oval Office on Saturday, marking a significant moment as he presented medals to esteemed recipients from the realms of film and music.

This year's honorees included iconic figures such as actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the legendary rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

During his first term, Trump notably disregarded the Kennedy Center and its prestigious awards program. However, upon his return to office in January, the Republican president implemented significant changes, which included removing the board of trustees and appointing GOP supporters in their place.

In a marked departure from tradition, Trump stated in August that he was 'about 98% involved' in selecting the 2025 honorees, an announcement he made personally at the Kennedy Center rather than through a press release, as had been standard practice in the past.

Later on Saturday, after the Oval Office event, Trump was scheduled to attend an annual State Department dinner for the honorees, which traditionally featured the award presentation. However, it appears that the presentation has now been shifted to the White House.

The iconic Kennedy Center Honors program, with its series of tribute performances for each honoree, will be filmed at the performing arts center and broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. This will be Trump's first attendance at the program as president, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump.

While Trump previously indicated his intent to host the show, the White House has not provided details about his level of involvement. It is customary for presidents to attend the event and sit with honorees, but none have officially hosted it.

Trump humorously recounted that he remarked about his hosting role, saying, 'I’m the president of the United States. Are you fools asking me to do that?' after which he agreed to host, following discussions with his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.

On the prior Friday, Trump spent extensive time at the Kennedy Center, where he participated in the FIFA World Cup draw for 2026 and accepted its inaugural peace prize. Additionally, he held a meeting with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, further emphasizing his active engagement in significant national and international events.