President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the next recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, unveiling a slate of artists he said reflects his vision for the nation’s premier performing arts institution.
The 2025 honorees will be country music legend George Strait, actors Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, and the rock band KISS. Trump, who said he was “98% involved” in the selection process, will also personally host the televised awards ceremony in December — his first turn as master of ceremonies since his years on The Apprentice.
The announcement capped a high-profile visit to the Kennedy Center, part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape Washington’s cultural landscape. Since regaining the presidency, he has removed Democratic appointees from the center’s board, installed close allies in leadership positions, and secured \$250 million in federal funding for renovations. He has vowed to eliminate programming he deems “woke” and promote productions that align with his worldview.
Trump’s takeover has drawn sharp criticism from artists and Democrats, with some productions canceled and prominent figures resigning in protest. Still, he insists the changes will restore the Kennedy Center’s prestige, calling it “the premier venue for performing arts anywhere in the world.”
The president’s cultural campaign extends beyond the Kennedy Center. He has ordered reviews of Smithsonian museums and exhibits, pressed DC’s historic sites to present a more celebratory version of U.S. history, and, in a controversial move, federalized the city’s police force.
The Kennedy Center Honors, founded in 1978, have typically avoided partisan disputes.
Source: CNN