President Donald Trump is breaking with more than half a century of tradition by hosting the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors himself, a highly unusual move that places the sitting president not just in attendance but at the centre of America’s most prestigious cultural celebration.
The ceremony, recorded earlier this month in Washington, will air nationwide tonight on CBS and stream on Paramount+, celebrating a class of honorees whose careers have shaped music, theatre and film across generations.
Traditionally, presidents attend the Kennedy Center Honors as guests, seated alongside the honorees. Trump’s decision to serve as host marks a sharp departure from that custom and follows a series of sweeping changes to the institution under his administration.
Earlier this year, the White House confirmed that the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees voted to remove its leadership and install Trump as chairman, with former ambassador Richard Grenell appointed as president. Last week, the administration announced the institution had been renamed the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a move that has drawn strong reactions across the arts community.
In a social media post promoting the broadcast, Trump described the honorees as “true GREATS in the history of entertainment” and invited viewers to judge his performance as master of ceremonies. The comments underscored how personally invested he appears to be in reshaping the cultural stature of the event.
This year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients include country music legend George Strait, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, rock band Kiss, Tony Award winner Michael Crawford, and actor Sylvester Stallone. The group reflects a largely mainstream, late-20th-century entertainment lineage, distinct from the classical and jazz artists frequently recognised in past ceremonies.
Alongside the leadership overhaul, the Kennedy Center has also introduced a redesigned honours symbol. The long-standing rainbow ribbon has been replaced with gold medallions designed by Tiffany & Co., featuring an etched image of the centre and the honoree’s name on a navy ribbon intended to reflect “dignity and tradition.”
Supporters of the changes argue the institution is being revitalised and made more accessible to a broader audience, while critics see the moves as an unprecedented politicisation of a cultural landmark long viewed as above partisan influence.
More background on the ceremony and tonight’s broadcast details can be found via CBS News’ coverage of the Kennedy Center Honors and on the official Kennedy Center website.
How to watch: The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.
Written by Swikblog Desk
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