US EditionTrump Hosts the Kennedy Center Honors, Breaking Tradition
President Donald Trump actively reshaped the Kennedy Center by selecting honorees, revamping leadership, and overseeing renovations while hosting the 2025 honors ceremony for the first time.
- On Dec. 7, President Donald Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, becoming the first President to serve as host; the taped ceremony will air on CBS on December 23.
- After boycotting the Honors in his first term, Trump appointed himself board chairman, fired Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell and ordered a renovation during his second term.
- Honorees received redesigned gold medallions from Tiffany & Co. hanging from navy-blue ribbons, while Trump appeared on stage three times and used prerecorded videos to praise Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Michael Crawford and KISS.
- Kennedy Center staff and audiences face turnover, declining ticket sales, and ended LGBTQ events under Ric Grenell, Kennedy Center president, reshaping programming and symbols like the rainbow ribbon.
- President Donald Trump predicted the taped CBS broadcast will have the highest television ratings ever, saying, `This is the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center`, though it was unclear how much of his 12-minute opening will air.
101 Articles
101 Articles
KISS, Sylvester Stallone among Trump-hosted Kennedy Center Honors recipients: 'I'm going to try to act like Johnny Carson'
It had the look of a traditional Kennedy Center Honors ceremony — but following President Donald Trump's unprecedented overhaul of the D.C. arts institution earlier this year and with the commander in chief making history as the show's host, change was in the air at this year's awards gathering.
Donald Trump Takes Center Stage at 2025 Kennedy Center Honors Featuring Awards for KISS, Gloria Gaynor & More
What a difference a second term makes. After boycotting the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term, President Donald Trump — who also now serves as chairman of the vaunted performing arts house — broke with tradition and became the first President to host the annual gala during its 48th incarnation on Sunday (Dec. 7). While the acting President traditionally sits in the balcony with the honorees, Trump took the stage three times during t…
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