U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the 48th Kennedy Center Honors on December 7, 2025, an event that celebrated cultural icons such as Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor. This marked a departure from tradition, as it was the first instance of a president commanding the stage rather than observing from the audience. Since returning to office in January, Trump has positioned the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a focal point in his critique of what he describes as 'woke' anti-American culture.

Trump indicated that he had not prepared extensively for the event, stating, "I wanted to just be myself." He mentioned that he agreed to host the ceremony at the request of a television network and anticipated high viewership ratings for the broadcast scheduled to air on December 23 on CBS and Paramount+.

The Kennedy Center Honors, established in 1978, recognize individuals for their significant contributions to American culture and the arts. This year's honorees included Stallone, known for his roles in the 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' franchises; Gaynor, celebrated for her anthem 'I Will Survive'; and Kiss, recognized for their theatrical performances. Other honorees included country music artist George Strait and Tony Award-winning actor Michael Crawford.

The event was particularly poignant for Kiss, as the band's original lead guitarist, Ace Frehley, had recently passed away. Gene Simmons, a co-founder of Kiss, noted that an empty chair would be left in Frehley's memory during the ceremony.

Stallone expressed his gratitude for the honor, describing the experience as overwhelming. Gaynor referred to the recognition as a pinnacle achievement in her career. Previous honorees have spanned various artistic disciplines, including dance, theatre, film, and music.

Trump's involvement with the Kennedy Center has been controversial, as he has altered its leadership and board composition, favoring Republican supporters. He has also criticized the center's programming and aesthetics, even suggesting a potential renaming to the 'Trump Kennedy Center.' His administration secured over $250 million in federal funding for renovations.

Historically, presidents from both parties have interacted with artists holding differing political views. During Trump's first term, several honorees publicly criticized him, leading to his absence from the event. Trump has claimed to have played a significant role in selecting the 2025 honorees, rejecting some candidates he deemed 'too woke.' While Stallone has been supportive of Trump, the political affiliations of other honorees remain less clear, with some expressing mixed sentiments about the former president's actions and rhetoric.