Speaking from the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the honorees for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors and confirmed he will personally host the event. Trump said he initially declined the invitation, joking, “Are you fools asking me to do that? I’m President of the United States. I won’t do it.” He ultimately agreed after a request from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, saying, “Okay Susie, I’ll do it. That’s the power she’s got.”
Trump revealed he was “about 98 percent involved” in selecting this year’s honorees, noting he “turned down plenty” and rejected “a couple of wokesters.” The 48th Kennedy Center Honors recipients are country music legend George Strait, stage and screen star Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and rock band Kiss. Trump praised the group as “outstanding people” and “an incredible” lineup.
Highlighting Strait’s four-decade career, Trump cited his 120 million albums sold worldwide, 60 number one hits, and 33 platinum-certified albums — more than any other living American. “He’s believed by millions of people to just be as good as you can get,” Trump said.
Of Crawford, Trump called him “one of the greatest talents I’ve ever actually seen,” praising his award-winning career and remarkable voice. Stallone, Trump said, is “a legend of the silver screen” whose films have grossed more than $7.5 billion.
Gaynor, known as “one of the most revered singers of the American disco era,” earned Trump’s praise for her enduring hit I Will Survive, which he called “one of those few songs that get better every time you hear it.” Kiss, he said, is “one of the greatest rock bands of all time,” with “great people” as members.
