On Saturday, December 6, 2025, President Donald Trump presented the Kennedy Center Honors to this year’s recipients in a ceremony held in the Oval Office. He praised the group as an exceptionally distinguished class of artists and cultural figures and described them as emblematic of “the very best in American arts and culture.”

The 2025 honorees include actor Sylvester Stallone; singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait; the rock band KISS; and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

Reorganization at the Kennedy Center

After largely overlooking the awards program during his first term, Trump has taken a much more active role since returning to office in January. He removed the existing board of trustees, installed new members who named him chairman, and publicly criticized both the center’s programming and its upkeep — pledging a broader overhaul.

New medallions from Tiffany & Co.

At the ceremony, each honoree received a new medallion designed and donated by Tiffany & Co. The piece is a gold disc engraved on one side with the Kennedy Center’s image and rainbow detailing; the recipient’s name and the ceremony date are inscribed on the reverse. The disc hangs from a navy-blue ribbon, replacing the previous large rainbow ribbon decorated with three gold plates.

Honoring the recipients

George Strait, who wore a cowboy hat for the presentation, accepted his medallion first; when he removed his hat, the president quipped that he could leave it on if he preferred. Trump lauded Michael Crawford as a major Broadway star for his long-running role in Phantom of the Opera, celebrated Gloria Gaynor as a defining voice of disco, and called Sylvester Stallone “one of the true, great movie stars.” He also described KISS as an “incredible rock band.”

Songs by Gaynor and KISS were played in the Rose Garden outside the Oval Office while White House reporters waited nearby for the ceremony to begin.

Selection process and presidential involvement

When Trump announced the honorees in August, he said he was “about 98% involved” in the selection — the first slate chosen under his leadership. Historically, selections were guided by a bipartisan committee; the exact process under the new structure has not been fully explained.

“Each of you has made an indelible mark on American life,” the president said, praising the honorees’ influence across genres and generations.

Ceremony moved and broadcast plans

Traditionally, honorees received medallions at a State Department dinner, but Trump relocated this year’s presentation to the White House. The Kennedy Center’s formal tribute program — a taped evening of speeches and performances honoring the recipients — was scheduled to be recorded at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, December 7, 2025, and is expected to air later in December on CBS and Paramount+. Trump said he would attend the taping with First Lady Melania Trump and indicated he would host the broadcast, predicting it would draw record ratings.

A short video of the Oval Office presentation was shared by the White House below.

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