Overview
- Trump took the stage to lead the 48th Kennedy Center Honors after presenting medals in the Oval Office the night before.
- The 2025 honorees are Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Michael Crawford.
- This year’s medallions were redesigned by Tiffany & Co. as gold pendants on navy-blue ribbons, replacing the long-used rainbow ribbon; Monique Frehley accepted the late Ace Frehley’s medal.
- Trump said he was “98% involved” in choosing the honorees, rejected nominees he deemed “too woke,” and said he agreed to host at a TV network’s request while predicting record ratings for the December 23 CBS/Paramount+ broadcast.
- The showcase follows Trump’s Kennedy Center overhaul, including a new leadership and board that elected him chair, more than $250 million in renovation funding, and programming shifts that critics say curtailed LGBTQ-focused events.