WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump took center stage at the Kennedy Center Honours on Sunday, marking the first time a sitting president has hosted the prestigious awards ceremony. The event celebrated top performers in music, film, and theater, including Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Michael Crawford, and rock band KISS.
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Trump, who helped select this year’s honourees, did not participate in Kennedy Center events during his first term. However, in his second term, he has reshaped the institution by firing its president, installing a new board that he chairs, and initiating a major renovation of the building. Standing center stage, Trump told the audience, “The Kennedy Center is very special. We’re bringing this building back to life.”
Sylvester Stallone, Kiss and Gloria Gaynor are among the luminaries being celebrated Sunday at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, with President Trump hosting the show, the first time a president will command the stage instead of sitting in an Opera House box.… pic.twitter.com/0CUL0FG9zC
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 7, 2025
During the ceremony, Trump introduced segments on each honouree via prerecorded videos and made live remarks alongside his wife, Melania Trump. The honourees largely welcomed his involvement. Michael Crawford noted he might not have attended without Trump’s support, while Gene Simmons of KISS commented, “Whether you’re a fan of the president or not, he’s never boring.”
The show featured tributes to each artist. Stallone was honoured for his iconic roles in Rocky and Rambo, Crawford received a rafter-raising performance of Phantom of the Opera, and Strait, Gaynor, and KISS were celebrated with live musical performances, including Garth Brooks performing KISS’s Shout It Out Loud.
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Trump also presented newly designed gold medallions to the honourees, replacing the traditional rainbow-colored ribbons used since 1978. The event, which underscores Trump’s increasing influence over the Kennedy Center, will be broadcast on CBS on December 23.