Trump announces star-studded list of Kennedy Center honorees
President Donald Trump announced the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients on Wednesday, selecting five icons he personally approved — and making clear he had no patience for “woke” candidates. The honorees are actor Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss, disco legend Gloria Gaynor, British stage star Michael Crawford, and country music legend George Strait.
Speaking at the announcement, Trump mixed personal anecdotes with praise for the honorees. He recalled being “blown away” by Stallone’s performance in the first “Rambo” film and detailed the actor’s determination to star in “Rocky” after rejecting casting choices that didn’t fit the role. Trump said Gaynor’s disco anthem “I Will Survive” was one of the few songs “that get better every time,” and promised Kiss would deliver “something very special” during the ceremony.
For Crawford, Trump offered especially high praise, calling his original portrayal of “The Phantom of the Opera” one of the greatest roles in Broadway history. He even recounted seeing Crawford’s Broadway debut in 1967, joking about how long ago it felt. Strait, one of country music’s all-time best-selling artists, was hailed as a national treasure whose career embodied classic American values.
Trump also used the occasion to jab at Hollywood, contrasting the Kennedy Center Honors with the “woke” Academy Awards, which he said had alienated viewers and tanked in ratings. “I turned down plenty,” he said of potential nominees. “They were too woke. Look at the Academy Awards, it gets lousy ratings now. All they do is talk about how much they hate Trump, but nobody likes that. They don’t watch anymore.”
The president, who serves as chairman of the Kennedy Center, jokingly suggested he might one day honor himself. “I wanted one. I was never able to get one. I waited and waited and waited and I said, ‘To hell with it, I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor.’ Maybe next year we’ll honor Trump,” he quipped.
The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be broadcast in December on CBS, with Trump promising a celebration of talent that focuses on artistry — not politics.