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U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for the first time, personally influencing this year’s recipients, unveiling redesigned medals, and asserting his influence
WASHINGTON witnessed an unprecedented moment in the nation’s cultural calendar on Sunday, as President Donald Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, the United States’ premier lifetime achievement award for the performing arts.
Reuters reported on Mondy that for the first time in its history, a sitting president personally presided over the event, underscoring Trump’s expanding influence over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This year’s honorees included actor Sylvester Stallone, disco legend Gloria Gaynor, country music icon George Strait, Broadway star Michael Crawford, and the rock band KISS.
The president, who played a direct role in selecting the recipients, praised them in the Oval Office on Saturday, presenting newly designed gold medallions with blue ribbons, replacing the rainbow-coloured ribbons that had symbolised the diversity of the arts since 1978.
“These are among the greatest artists, actors and performers of their generation,” Trump said.
“We can hardly imagine the country music phenomenon without its king of country, or the American disco without its first lady, or Broadway without its phantom…or Rock and Roll without its hottest band in the world, and that’s what they are, or Hollywood without one of its greatest visionaries.”
Trump’s involvement reflects a deeper intervention in the centre’s operations. During his second term, he installed a new board that he now chairs, replaced the centre’s president, and initiated a multi-million-dollar renovation.
The centre’s new president, Ric Grenell, formerly Trump’s ambassador to Germany, is overseeing the overhaul and has introduced high-profile events such as hosting the World Cup final draw.
Trump also indicated that the Kennedy Center itself could bear his name, noting that such a decision would fall to the board he now chairs.
This follows a similar move last week when his name was affixed to the U.S. Institute of Peace building.
The president’s broader renovation plans in Washington have included controversial changes to the White House, such as the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
In accompanying remarks, Trump declared: “The Kennedy Center is going to be brought back to life. We are saving the Kennedy Center.”
First Lady Melania Trump stood at his side during the ceremony, which blended political symbolism with a high-profile celebration of cultural achievement.
The Kennedy Center Honors have traditionally been presented by celebrities or notable figures rather than the sitting president, making Sunday’s event a striking departure from decades of tradition.
The ceremony highlighted the careers of KISS, known for hits such as “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and “Rock and Roll All Nite,” George Strait, celebrated for songs like “Down and Out,” Gloria Gaynor, famed for her disco anthem “I Will Survive,” and other luminaries of stage and screen.
Trump’s direct involvement in selecting winners and shaping the ceremony reflects an unusual fusion of politics and culture, positioning the president at the heart of one of America’s most prestigious artistic institutions. - December 8, 2025