The 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which recognizes artists for their contributions to American culture, features a notable departure from tradition: President Donald Trump serving as both host and awards presenter. He is the first president to ever emcee the glamorous Sunday night event.
Typically, the president and first lady attend only as guests and host a reception for the honorees at the White House. Past ceremonies have been hosted by celebrities like Stephen Colbert and Queen Latifah.
Trump has opted to take on a more central role, in keeping with his MAGA-friendly overhaul of the center since beginning his second term last January.
On Saturday, during an Oval Office medal presentation with the honorees, Trump spoke of his hosting role with characteristic bravado, boasting of his showbiz prowess — “If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president” — and predicting that “this will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done.” He repeatedly highlighted recent renovations to the building, including changes to the auditoriums and newly restored marble.
During his second term, Trump has taken a much larger role in the performing arts center, which he routinely refers to as the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” “It’s not gonna be woke,” he vowed earlier this year as he fired several board members from the traditionally nonpartisan institution and oversaw his own appointment as chairman.
Since then, high-profile artists have pulled out of performing and serving in various roles at the center in protest. Television producer Shonda Rhimes resigned as the board’s treasurer, opera singer Renée Fleming resigned as one of its artistic advisers in February and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical megahit “Hamilton” scrapped a planned run scheduled for 2026.
Other changes include the abandonment of the famed rainbow-hued ribbon for honorees. It was replaced by a more understated navy blue ribbon designed by Tiffany & Co.
This year’s honorees include country music legend George Strait, the rock band KISS, “Phantom of the Opera” star Michael Crawford, disco singer Gloria Gaynor and actor Sylvester Stallone of “Rocky” and “Rambo” fame.
“The Kennedy Center Honors have been compared to a knighthood in Britain, or the French Legion of Honor,” according to the institution. While presidents usually have no role in selecting honorees, Trump said in August that he was “about 98 percent involved.”
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.