Overview

• President Trump revealed five 2025 honorees—Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait and Michael Crawford—after personally selecting the recipients for the first time.
• He said he will produce and moderate the December 7 gala, becoming the first sitting president to lead the televised Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.
• The president’s takeover began in February with the dismissal of 18 board members and the appointment of allies including former ambassador Richard Grenell.
• A March White House decree targeting “divisive” narratives at Smithsonian museums led to leadership shake-ups and program cancellations, prompting protests from artists.
• High-profile resignations by figures such as Shonda Rhimes and Renée Fleming have followed, even as members of Kiss accepted the honor and Tom Cruise reportedly declined consideration.