In a striking departure from tradition, US President Donald Trump took centre stage not just as a guest but as the host of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors. The pre-recorded event, set for broadcast on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST, marks Trump's inaugural appearance at the prestigious annual ceremony during his two terms in office.
A Presidential Host and a Provocative Question
Trump announced his role as master of ceremonies in a post on his Truth Social platform. He stated he was hosting "at the request of the Board, and just about everybody else in America." In a move characteristic of his style, he directly invited public feedback on his hosting skills. More notably, he added a jest that has captured headlines: "If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make 'hosting' a full time job?" This quip, posed ahead of the broadcast, frames the event as a potential referendum on his unconventional performance.
This year's ceremony represents a significant break from protocol. Historically, sitting presidents would attend and sit with the honorees as spectators. Trump, however, has rewritten the script by personally hosting the celebration, a first for a commander-in-chief.
Overhaul of a Cultural Institution
The event unfolds against the backdrop of sweeping changes made to the Kennedy Center by the Trump administration. These changes include the removal of the institution's board chairman and its president. In their place, Trump and his ally, former Ambassador Richard Grenell, were installed.
In a highly controversial move last week, the White House announced that the board had voted to rename the iconic institution. It will now be known as the Trump-Kennedy Center, cementing the President's imprint on this pillar of American arts and culture.
Honouring the 'GREATS' and How to Watch
Promoting the broadcast, Trump said it would be "honoring true GREATS in the History of Entertainment." The list of 2025 honorees, which he announced earlier in the summer, includes a diverse array of legends:
- Country music icon George Strait
- Disco legend Gloria Gaynor
- The rock band KISS (members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and the late Ace Frehley)
- Stage and screen actor Michael Crawford
- Action star and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone
Viewers in the United States can catch the ceremony on CBS television stations or via an online stream on Paramount+. The event was recorded earlier in December at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Adding to the list of changes this year, the traditional rainbow-ribboned medallion given to honorees has been redesigned. The new gold medallion, crafted by Tiffany & Co., features an etching of the centre with rainbow colours on one side and the honoree's name on the other. It hangs from a navy blue ribbon, chosen for its association with dignity and tradition.
As America tunes in, the spotlight will be as much on the esteemed honorees as on the President himself, who has seamlessly blended statecraft with showmanship, leaving the public to ponder his half-serious question about a future in full-time hosting.
