WASHINGTON (AP) — In a colorful ceremony reflecting a shift in presidential involvement with the arts, President Donald Trump hosted this year's Kennedy Center honorees in the Oval Office, marking the first time he actively engaged in the presentation of these prestigious awards. The honored recipients include notable figures such as actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the iconic band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford.
Previously, Trump had been absent from Kennedy Center events during his first term. Upon his return to the presidency earlier this year, he made notable changes, including replacing the board of trustees with supporters and modifying the traditional selection process for new honorees.
Trump indicated that he was heavily involved in the selection of this year’s honorees, a sharp departure from the bipartisan committee practice that governed the awards in the past. “I was about 98% involved in picking the honorees,” Trump stated upon announcing them at the Kennedy Center.
While the medallion presentations typically occurred during a State Department dinner for the honorees, Trump has shifted this tradition by conducting the ceremony in the Oval Office. The sit-down dinner will still take place later that evening at the State Department, albeit with the traditional honoring ceremony already completed.
The Kennedy Center Honors program, featuring tributes to the honorees, will be filmed at the arts center and aired in December on CBS and Paramount+. This year, Trump is expected to attend the program along with First Lady Melania Trump, marking his first time witnessing the event as president, a role traditionally reserved for passive audience participation rather than as a host.
Reflecting on his participation, Trump humorously recalled being approached about the hosting role, initially questioning, ‘Are you fools asking me to do that?’ However, after discussion with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, he agreed to take on the responsibility.
In addition to this event, Trump visited the Kennedy Center the previous day to participate in the FIFA World Cup draw for 2026 and accept its inaugural peace prize. He also held discussions with leaders from Canada and Mexico during this visit. As the Kennedy Center prepares for its prestigious celebrations, the arts community watches closely to see how the administration’s new direction plays out in the festival's iconic presentations.
