President Trump personally selected the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees—Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Kiss, and Michael Crawford—while breaking tradition by announcing he would host the December ceremony himself. His explicit rejection of ‘woke’ artists and unprecedented involvement in the selection process demonstrate his hands-on approach to reshaping cultural institutions according to his political vision.
The announcement occurred on August 13, 2025 at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, where Trump revealed he was ‘98% involved’ in choosing honorees who align with his cultural values. He publicly vetoed candidates he deemed ‘wokesters,’ directly linking artistic recognition to ideological compatibility for the first time in the award’s 54-year history.
The honorees represent genres popular with Trump’s base: Stallone (action films), Gaynor (disco), Strait (traditional country), Kiss (rock), and Crawford (musical theater). This marks a dramatic shift from the Kennedy Center’s traditional bipartisan selection process, which previously involved arts professionals and public nominations without presidential interference.
Trump framed his involvement as part of broader efforts to transform the Kennedy Center into a ‘crown jewel’ ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. During the announcement, he detailed facility renovations while connecting cultural recognition to his law-and-order agenda through extended remarks about National Guard deployments in Washington D.C.
The move has intensified concerns about politicization of the arts. Several major productions canceled Kennedy Center engagements following Trump’s 2025 takeover, with Hamilton producers calling it a betrayal of the institution’s mission. Former trustee Elaine Bryant noted selections were historically ‘about artistic merit, not political alignment.’
Reactions among honorees revealed tensions. While Stallone (a Trump supporter) called the honor ‘the highest compliment,’ Kiss frontman Gene Simmons had previously criticized Trump’s self-interest. The administration simultaneously launched a review of Smithsonian Institution exhibitions for ‘alignment with American ideals.’
Looking ahead, the December 7 ceremony will test whether Trump’s vision resonates beyond his base. Long-term implications include potential permanent changes to the selection process and the Center’s role as a nonpartisan institution. This episode exemplifies Trump’s broader strategy of using cultural institutions to advance political narratives and consolidate executive influence.