In a striking shift from his first term, President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in the Oval Office on Saturday. This event was characterized by the White House as a special medal presentation ceremony, showcasing honorees spanning various fields such as film, music, and theatre, including actor Sylvester Stallone and singer Gloria Gaynor.
Throughout his first term, Trump notably ignored the Kennedy Center and its prestigious awards program. However, since returning to office in January, he has enacted considerable changes. This includes ousting the center's board of trustees and replacing them with his supporters, and vowing to overhaul its programming and aesthetic.
During an announcement in August, Trump claimed he was 'about 98% involved' in selecting the 2025 honorees, which is a departure from the traditional bipartisan selection committee that was responsible for these decisions prior to his administration.
Subsequent to the ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump was scheduled to attend an annual State Department dinner for the honorees, a notable alteration from previous years where honorees would receive their medallions during the dinner events.
The highly anticipated Kennedy Center Honors program, featuring tribute performances for each honoree, is set to be recorded the following day at the arts center, with plans for a broadcast later in December. Notably, this marks Trump's first attendance at the Kennedy Center Honors as president.
Trump had expressed reluctance to host the show initially, referencing his busy schedule as president, but ultimately accepted the role upon encouragement from his aides.
Prior to the honoring ceremony, Trump spent time at the Kennedy Center, participating in a draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and receiving an inaugural peace prize. His engagements included meetings with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.
