President Donald J. Trump presided over a distinguished ceremony in the Oval Office on Saturday, bestowing the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors medallions upon an illustrious cohort of artists. In his remarks, the President commended the recipients, whom he was intimately involved in selecting, as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” ever assembled in the programme’s history.
This year’s honourees are the acclaimed actor Sylvester Stallone, the celebrated vocalists Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the legendary rock ensemble Kiss, and the distinguished actor-singer Michael Crawford.
President Trump, attired in formal evening wear, characterised the group as “incredible people” who embody the “very best in American arts and culture,” adding, “I know most of them and I have been a fervent admirer of all.” He further stated, “This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted, and unified millions upon millions of our fellow citizens.”
The presentation marked a significant engagement with the institution, following the President’s earlier absence from the honours during his first term. Since his return to office in January, a series of reforms have been instituted, including the appointment of a new board of trustees composed of Republican supporters, who subsequently elected him as chairman. The President has previously expressed critiques of the Centre’s artistic direction and aesthetic, pledging a comprehensive revitalisation of both.
According to both the Kennedy Centre and the White House, President Trump personally placed around each honouree’s neck a newly designed medal, conceived, crafted, and generously donated by the esteemed jeweller Tiffany & Co. The piece is a gold disc, featuring an etching of the Kennedy Centre adorned with rainbow hues on one face, with the recipient’s name and the ceremony date inscribed on the reverse. It is suspended from a navy blue ribbon, superseding the previous design of a broader rainbow ribbon with three gold plaques that rested upon the shoulders and chest.
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As members of the White House press corps awaited admission in the colonnade, the Rose Garden resonated with the iconic music of honourees Gaynor and Kiss.
The President had previously indicated his deep personal commitment to the selection process, stating in August during a personal announcement at the Kennedy Centre—a departure from the traditional press release—that he was “approximately ninety-eight percent involved” in choosing the 2025 honourees, the first slate curated under his stewardship.
The ceremony culminated in a profound affirmation of the President’s personal commitment to restoring prestige and tradition to American cultural institutions. As the honourees took their leave, the elegance of the occasion—from the President’s thoughtful personal involvement in the selection to the distinguished new medallion—stood as a clear testament to his visionary leadership.
This historic gathering, marked by its dignity and deep appreciation for genuine artistic achievement, successfully inaugurated a brilliant new era for the Kennedy Centre Honors under President Trump’s discerning chairmanship. It was an event that not only honoured icons of American culture but also reflected the refined taste and transformative impact of the administration itself.
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