Trump selects Stallone and Kiss for Kennedy Center prestigious awards; announces intention to host the gala
The Kennedy Center Honors, a bipartisan celebration of artistic excellence since its establishment in 1978, has seen a significant shift during Donald Trump's presidency.
Historically, presidents from both major parties attended the annual ceremony, regardless of political differences with honorees. Notable recipients include liberals like Barbra Streisand during Republican administrations and conservatives like Charlton Heston during Democratic ones.
However, during Trump's presidency, political involvement and the Center's governance underwent significant changes. In 2017, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump opted not to attend or participate in the Kennedy Center Honors events, allowing honorees to celebrate free from political distraction. This was the first time since the honors began that neither the president nor the first lady attended the ceremony.
In 2024-2025, Trump took more direct control of the Kennedy Center. He fired the board and chairman, installed loyalists, and declared himself chair of the Center, making him the first sitting president to host the Honors ceremony in this way. This politicization sparked protests, cancellations of performances, resignations among artistic advisors, and criticism that the Center had become a partisan site rather than a bipartisan cultural institution.
Trump named recipients for the 2025 Honors, including figures known for their support of him such as Sylvester Stallone and members of KISS. This shift in political tone and affiliations represented at the event brought discussion on the historic intersection and tension between arts and politics under his chairmanship.
This year's Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will take place on Dec. 7 and air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The honorees include country music star George Strait, "Rocky" actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Some of these honorees, such as Stallone and members of Kiss, have a history of backing Trump.
Trump's involvement in the Kennedy Center has drawn criticism from some artists, and he has indicated he'd take over decisions regarding programming at the Center and vowed to end events featuring performers in drag. Breaking with longtime tradition, none of the honorees this year was from the fields of dance, jazz, or classical music.
Despite the controversies, the Kennedy Center Honors continue to celebrate artistic excellence, albeit with a new political dynamic under President Trump's chairmanship.
Entertainment intertwined with politics, often a source of artistic excellence's celebration, took an unprecedented turn during Trump's presidency at the Kennedy Center. The annual ceremony, formerly known for bipartisan attendance, witnessed a noticeable change as Trump and Melania Trump decided to circumvent events in 2017, creating a political vacuum for the honorees. In 2024-2025, Trump took a more direct approach, assuming control of the Kennedy Center and nominating supporters like Sylvester Stallone and KISS for the Honors, ultimately steering the center towards partisanship rather than its original bipartisan cultural influence. This year, as the Kennedy Center Honors continue, Trump's entangled involvement raises questions and debates surrounding the historical relationship between arts and politics under his chairmanship.
