Trump Hosts Exclusive Oval Office Ceremony for 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees

President Donald Trump honored the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with a special ceremony in the Oval Office on Saturday. The recipients included actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Notably, this marks a significant shift in Trump's stance on the Kennedy Center, which he largely ignored during his first term. However, since returning to office, he has made several changes, including replacing the board of trustees with Republican supporters and criticizing the center's programming and physical appearance. The ceremony featured a new medal designed by jeweler Tiffany & Co., which replaces the traditional medallion. The gold disc is etched with the Kennedy Center's image and rainbow colors on one side and the honoree's name and date on the reverse. Trump's involvement in choosing the honorees has also been a topic of interest. In August, he announced the slate, saying he was "about 98% involved" in the decision-making process. Traditionally, a bipartisan selection committee handled the selection process. Later on Saturday, Trump will attend an annual State Department dinner for the honorees, marking a change from previous years when they received their medallions during the dinner. The glitzy Kennedy Center Honors program, featuring tribute performances for each recipient, will be taped on Sunday and broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount. Trump will attend the program for the first time as president, accompanied by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.