Trump visits Kennedy Center and pronounces 2025 honorees. See the total listing.

Washington — President Trump visited the Kennedy Center on Wednesday and introduced this yr’s listing of Kennedy Center Honorees, after his administration took steps to overtake the D.C. cultural establishment in current months.

“This is a very exciting project,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “We’re going to do something that will go rapidly, relatively inexpensively, and we’ll make it better than it ever was.”

The president mentioned he was “delighted to be here as we officially announce the incredible talented artists who will be celebrated later this year at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.” He added that he had been requested to host the forty eighth annual Honors this yr: “I have agreed to host — do you believe what I have to do?”

The president then introduced the honorees, saying the board chosen a “truly exceptional class” this yr. 

2025 Kennedy Center Honorees

George Strait

Country music star George Strait, referred to as the “King of Country Music,” has been performing for over 30 years. He has 60 No. 1 nation singles, greater than another artist in any style, has offered 120 million information and produced 33 platinum albums, greater than another artist. “He’s beloved by hundreds of millions of people all over the world,” the president mentioned of Strait.

Michael Crawford

Actor and singer Michael Crawford was the unique Tony Award-winning  “Phantom of the Opera” when the present opened on Broadway in 1988. “I think he’s one of the greatest talents I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Trump mentioned. 

Sylvester Stallone

Actor, director and bodybuilder Sylvester Stallone’s Hollywood profession spans over 5 a long time — he is greatest recognized for the function of boxer Rocky Balboa within the blockbuster hits “Rocky” and its 5 sequels, which he wrote and starred in. He additionally performed John Rambo, a soldier with PTSD, in 5 movies. Mr. Trump referred to him as “a friend of mine” and “a real talent — never been given credit for the talent.”

Gloria Gaynor

Disco star Gloria Gaynor is greatest recognized for her anthem “I Will Survive,” a music Mr. Trump mentioned he is heard “thousands of times.” “It’s one of those few that get better every time you hear it,” he mentioned.

KISS 

The rock band KISS was shaped in 1973 in New York City by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. With their face paint and elaborate performances that includes pyrotechnics and fireplace respiratory, they grew to become a popular culture phenomenon within the Seventies. The president referred to the band as “one of the greatest rock bands of all time” and famous it has offered over 100 million albums worldwide.

“The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, an outstanding group — incredible,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “We can’t wait to celebrate the Kennedy Center Honors.”

The Kennedy Center previewed the announcement Tuesday, writing in a post on X: “A country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House…” 

The Kennedy Center Honors, a televised gala, happen yearly in December. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is directed and produced by CBS and airs on the community. 

Last yr’s honorees included singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, composer Arturo Sandoval and the Apollo Theater.

Trump period on the Kennedy Center

In current months, the president and his allies have broadened their affect over the Kennedy Center. After the White House accused the establishment of being “woke” and scrutinized its funds earlier this yr, Mr. Trump ousted Kennedy Center board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, changing them along with his allies. Soon afterward, the brand new board changed the middle’s chairman, David Rubenstein, with Mr. Trump, and Richard Grenell grew to become the Kennedy Center’s interim president.

The Kennedy Center was designated by Congress as a dwelling memorial to President John F. Kennedy in 1964.

Along with efforts to reshape the middle’s governing physique and performances, the president outlined throughout a go to to the famed opera home in March that “we’re going to make a lot of changes — including the seats, the decor — pretty much everything. It needs a lot of work.” In July, House Republicans superior a measure that might rename the Kennedy Center’s opera home after first woman Melania Trump. 

The president mentioned Wednesday that within the months since he grew to become chairman, “we have completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution,” claiming “it was being run down” and “money wasn’t spent properly.” 

“With a little fix-up and a little work, we can make it unbelievable,” the president mentioned of the house. “The bones are so good.”

In a publish on Truth Social on Tuesday, Mr. Trump mentioned work is being finished to deliver the Kennedy Center “back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.” 

The president, who broke with custom throughout his first time period by skipping the Honors reveals after a number of award recipients criticized him, touted the “GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.” 

The president on Wednesday additionally talked about one other undertaking — a White House renovation — and his effort to “fix up” Washington, D.C., together with the deployment of federal regulation enforcement and the National Guard within the District of Columbia this week to deal with crime.

“I’m determined to make Washington safe, clean and beautiful again,” he mentioned.