The Kennedy Center Honors, an annual event celebrating artistic achievements, was held on December 23, 2025, under the auspices of President Donald Trump. This year’s ceremony attracted an estimated 2.65 million viewers, marking the lowest audience in the event's history, a significant drop from the previous year's 4.1 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen data.

Trump's administration has faced criticism for various actions, including his controversial takeover of the Kennedy Center, where he replaced the board of trustees with his supporters and added his name to the building. This move has drawn public disapproval, evidenced by incidents such as being booed during a performance of Les Misérables earlier in the year.

Despite claims from Trump that he was urged to host the event for its potential to boost ratings, the actual turnout suggests a disconnect between his assertions and public sentiment. The low viewership has prompted reactions on social media, with some commentators attributing the decline to a broader disinterest in events perceived as politically charged or authoritarian in nature. Critics have noted that the event's association with Trump may have deterred even fans of the honorees from tuning in, highlighting the complexities of public engagement with cultural institutions under political influence.