Overview
- The December 23 CBS telecast averaged an estimated 2.65 million viewers, roughly 35% fewer than 2024, according to preliminary Nielsen data reported by Programming Insider.
- President Donald Trump hosted the Honors after the December 7 taping, becoming the first sitting president to emcee the program.
- CBS cut Trump's approximately 12-minute opening at the event to about two minutes for the broadcast, according to the Washington Post’s reporting.
- Network leadership instructed staff to continue using “Kennedy Center,” noting that an official name change would require congressional approval.
- A board aligned with Trump voted to add his name to the institution, drawing objections from Kennedy family members and legal experts, while commentators pointed to the Tuesday, pre‑Christmas slot and tape delay as potential factors in the low viewership.