Washington — President Trump is set to visit the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, where he will announce the esteemed Kennedy Center honorees for this year. This visit comes after several months of efforts to overhaul the iconic D.C. cultural institution. “This is a very exciting project,” Mr. Trump stated. “We're going to do something that will go rapidly, relatively inexpensively, and we'll make it better than it ever was.”
The president expressed his delight in being present for the official announcement of the incredibly talented artists who will be celebrated later this year during the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors. In his remarks, he noted that he had been invited to host the 48th annual Honors: “I have agreed to host — do you believe what I have to do?”
During the announcement, President Trump revealed the honorees chosen by the board, describing them as a “truly exceptional class this year.” The first artist mentioned was country music star George Strait, followed by notable figures such as actor Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and the legendary rock band Kiss. “The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, an outstanding group — incredible,” Mr. Trump emphasized. “We can't wait to celebrate the Kennedy Center Honors.”
The Kennedy Center had teased the announcement a day prior on social media, playfully stating, “A country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House...”
In recent months, President Trump and his allies have expanded their influence over the Kennedy Center. After the White House criticized the institution for being “woke” and scrutinized its financial management, Mr. Trump removed board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, replacing them with individuals aligned with his administration. Subsequently, the new board replaced the center's chairman, David Rubenstein, with Mr. Trump himself, while Richard Grenell was appointed as the Kennedy Center's interim president.
Originally designated by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, the Kennedy Center has undergone significant changes. During a visit to the renowned opera house in March, President Trump outlined plans for extensive renovations, stating, “We're going to make a lot of changes — including the seats, the decor — pretty much everything. It needs a lot of work.”
In July, House Republicans advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center's opera house after First Lady Melania Trump. On Wednesday, the president asserted that since taking the role of chairman, they have “completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution,” claiming it was previously mismanaged. “With a little fix-up and a little work, we can make it unbelievable,” the president remarked, praising the venue’s potential.
On social media platform Truth Social, Mr. Trump shared that work is underway to elevate the Kennedy Center back to the “absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.” Historically, the president has broken with tradition by skipping the Honors shows during his first term due to criticism from several award recipients. However, he now looks forward to celebrating the “GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.”
The Kennedy Center Honors, a highly anticipated televised gala, takes place annually in December. The ceremony is directed and produced by CBS and airs on the network, showcasing the achievements of the honorees and the artistic contributions they have made to American culture.
