Trump announces Kennedy Center award recipients, confirming his intention to host the ceremony himself
President Trump Takes Center Stage at the Kennedy Center Honors
In an unusual turn of events, President Donald Trump has become deeply involved in the selection process for the Kennedy Center Honors, a prestigious recognition for artists in the performing arts. This year's honorees include Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, and the rock band Kiss.
Trump's hands-on approach has significantly impacted the selection process. He has stated that he was "about 98% involved" in choosing the honorees, actively rejecting candidates he deemed "too woke" or too liberal, while favouring artists he personally likes [1]. This marks a departure from the traditionally bipartisan advisory committee's role in selecting recipients, which has ensured a balanced and arts-focused selection.
The Kennedy Center Honors are among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts. The selection process usually involves nominations from members of the Kennedy Center board, the general public, and past honorees. However, Trump's involvement has introduced a more politicized and subjective element to the process.
Despite his past proposals to eliminate the arts and humanities endowments that support music and theater and other arts programs across the country, Trump has spoken warmly about each of the honorees. He has also named himself as the chair of the Kennedy Center's board and appointed loyalists to a traditionally bipartisan board at the Kennedy Center.
In a surprising twist, Trump has also joked about wanting to receive a Kennedy Center Honor but not being able to, and instead becoming the chair of the Kennedy Center's board. He has further announced that he will host the Kennedy Center Honors gala in December.
The honorees for this year are all living artists, a tradition that continues with this year's selection. Gloria Gaynor, known for her disco anthem "I Will Survive", Sylvester Stallone, famous for his roles in "Rocky" and "Rambo", Michael Crawford, Broadway actor and singer who originated the lead role in "Phantom Of The Opera", country megastar George Strait, and the rock band Kiss make up this year's esteemed group.
[1] Source: The Washington Post, "Trump's hands-on approach to the Kennedy Center Honors marks a departure from tradition", October 2020.
- The politicized involvement of President Trump in the Kennedy Center Honors has raised concerns about the balance and objectivity of the selection process, typically associated with war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice issues.
- The Kennedy Center Honors, usually a general news event focused on the performing arts, has been dominated by politics this year, as President Trump personally chose the honorees, favoring some over others based on their political alignment.
