President Donald Trump stepped into the spotlight at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday evening, presiding over the annual Kennedy Center Honors in a ceremony unlike any in the institution’s history. His appearance came after months of reshaping the arts center’s leadership, programming priorities, and even elements of its physical design — a level of presidential influence that has drawn both praise and alarm.
Addressing the audience inside the Opera House, Trump delivered his remarks with characteristic showmanship, even jokingly referring to the complex as “The Trump-Kennedy Center” before correcting himself and prompting laughter among attendees. He praised ongoing renovations, calling the work “gorgeous,” and made clear his personal imprint on the center’s evolving identity.
Trump’s elevated role follows his appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center board, a position he secured after removing Democratic-appointed trustees and replacing them with loyalists. Former employees say the shift has been substantial, describing a new era of political pressure, altered institutional values, and growing concerns about financial stability.
His hands-on approach extended to the selection of this year’s honorees. In August, Trump boasted he was “98% involved” in choosing the award recipients, a stark departure from the center’s longstanding process involving artist committees, board recommendations, and public input. The resulting list reflects Trump’s personal tastes and relationships within the entertainment world.
Among those honored was actor Sylvester Stallone, a frequent guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort who has acted as an informal bridge to Hollywood. The rock band KISS, led by Gene Simmons — a former contestant on “The Celebrity Apprentice” — also made the list. Simmons dismissed criticism that Trump was politicizing the institution, telling reporters that long-overdue improvements justified the president’s involvement.
Disco legend Gloria Gaynor, whose iconic “I Will Survive” remains a staple at Trump’s rallies, was another honoree. Federal Election Commission filings show she has donated to several Republican candidates under her birth name, Gloria Fowles, since 2016. British actor Michael Crawford, celebrated for originating the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera — a musical Trump has said he has seen multiple times — rounded out the group.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, praised the honorees during the ceremony, calling their accomplishments unparalleled and suggesting no future class would match the talent represented this year.
Yet critics argue that the president’s approach has compromised the cultural independence of the Kennedy Center. They cite not only political interference but also Trump’s deep interest in construction projects, reflecting his real estate background. Renovations under his direction have included restoring the exterior marble and painting over the center’s signature gold columns to match the white façade — changes that some longtime staff members argue alter the building’s iconic character.
At a State Department dinner the night before the ceremony, Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell emphasized the need for bipartisanship, urging the arts community to rise above political division. However, Trump’s guest list and rhetoric during the event suggested otherwise. Republican lawmakers and members of his administration filled the VIP sections, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Throughout the evening, Trump leaned on the familiar tone of his campaign rallies, proclaiming the ceremony “the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center” and touting what he characterized as a national resurgence under his leadership. He also took a swipe at President Joe Biden, remarking that organizers had “tried to get Biden to do this four years in a row.”
The ceremony, recorded for broadcast, will air on December 23 on CBS. Whether Trump’s bold reimagining of the Kennedy Center becomes a lasting transformation or remains a contentious chapter in the institution’s storied history, it has undeniably ushered the performing arts center into uncharted territory.
