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The President as Impresario

Sunday, 07 December 2025 13:57

Summary

The 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors in December 2025 became the focal point of a profound cultural and political shift in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump became the first sitting American president to host the prestigious arts gala1,2. The event, which celebrated country music star George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor, actor Michael Crawford, and the rock band Kiss, was overshadowed by the President’s controversial takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts earlier in the year3,4. The President’s hosting duties were previewed by a provocative comparison to late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, whom he called "horrible," asserting that his own presidency would be questionable if he could not outperform the comedian in terms of talent5,6. This unprecedented move, coupled with a sweeping institutional overhaul that saw the ousting of the board, the resignation of high-profile artistic figures, and the cancellation of major productions, transformed the Honors from a non-partisan celebration of the arts into a highly charged political spectacle7,8,9. The episode underscored the President’s determination to redefine American cultural institutions in his second term, placing his personal brand and political ideology at the centre of the nation’s artistic life10,11.

The Hostile Takeover of a Cultural Citadel

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, established in 1971 as a living memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, has long occupied a unique, non-partisan space in the American capital12,13. Its annual Honors ceremony, inaugurated in 1978, traditionally served as a moment of national unity, celebrating lifetime artistic achievement with the President and First Lady attending from the Presidential Box, a symbol of the government’s respect for the arts14,15. This tradition was broken during the President’s first term, when he skipped the ceremony each year following a boycott by some 2017 honorees16,17. The relationship was fundamentally redefined in February 2025, shortly after the President’s return to office18. In a move unprecedented in the centre’s history, the President announced his intention to fire members of the Board of Trustees and install himself as chairman19,20. He publicly stated his goal was to make the Kennedy Center "GREAT AGAIN" and ensure it would no longer host "woke" programming21,22. The board, which is composed of 36 members appointed by the President to six-year terms, was swiftly purged of those not appointed by him, including the long-serving chairman and major philanthropist David Rubenstein, who had donated over $100 million to the institution23,24. The new board, stacked with political loyalists, voted the President in as chairman, marking the first time a sitting U.S. President has held the position25,26. Deborah Rutter, the centre’s president since 2014, was ousted, despite having planned to step down at the end of the year27,28. Richard Grenell, a veteran of the first Trump administration, was appointed as the new president29. The upheaval prompted a wave of high-profile resignations from the artistic community30. Television producer Shonda Rhimes stepped down as treasurer, and opera singer Renée Fleming and musician Ben Folds resigned from their artistic advisory roles31,32. The producer of the hit musical *Hamilton*, Jeffrey Seller, cancelled the show’s anticipated 2026 run at the centre, stating that the production could not "in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture"33,34. Reports indicated that ticket sales for resident companies, such as the National Symphony Orchestra, had plummeted amid the organisational uncertainty35.

The New Cultural Litmus Test

The selection of the 2025 honorees was the first to be conducted under the President’s direct influence, a process he claimed was "about 98% involved"36,37. He boasted of personally vetoing several potential recipients, whom he dismissed as "wokesters"38. The final list of honorees—George Strait, Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and Kiss—was a collection of pop-culture icons, many of whom have a history of political neutrality or, in the case of Stallone, public support for the President39,40. The inclusion of Michael Crawford, the original star of *The Phantom of the Opera*, was seen as a nod to the President’s personal taste, as he is a known fan of the musical41. The President’s vision extended beyond the honorees to the physical presentation of the award itself42. Breaking with a 47-year tradition, the distinctive rainbow-ribboned medallions were replaced with a new design by Tiffany & Co., a gold disc hanging from a navy blue lanyard43,44. The medal ceremony, traditionally a dinner held at the State Department, was moved to the Oval Office on the Saturday before the main gala45,46. During this ceremony, the President presented the new medals, hailing the recipients as "perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class" ever assembled47. He also used the occasion to promote a $257 million renovation of the centre, which he claimed had been "mistreated" and would be restored to a level of grandeur not seen elsewhere in the country48,49.

The Presidential Host and the Late-Night Feud

The most significant break from tradition was the President’s decision to host the Sunday night gala, a role previously filled by professional entertainers and journalists such as Stephen Colbert, Queen Latifah, and Walter Cronkite50,51. The President, who had previously hosted the reality television show *The Apprentice*, had mused about hosting the Honors since his takeover in March, citing his belief that he was the "king of ratings"52,53. He had agreed to host the show "at the request of a certain television network"53. It was during the Saturday medal ceremony in the Oval Office that the President made the provocative comparison that dominated the media coverage54. He predicted that the televised broadcast of the Honors would be the highest-rated show in the programme’s history55. He then turned his attention to one of his most persistent critics in the entertainment world, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel56. "I’ve watched some of the people that host," the President remarked, before declaring, "Jimmy Kimmel was horrible"57. He then escalated the comment, linking his political legitimacy to his performance as a host: "If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president"58. The comment was a pointed continuation of a long-running public feud between the two figures, which dates back to 201659. Kimmel had frequently used his programme to satirise the President, notably delivering a viral zinger during the 2024 Academy Awards after the President had criticised his hosting performance on social media60. The rivalry had intensified earlier in 2025 when Kimmel’s show was temporarily suspended by ABC following controversial comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an action the President had publicly applauded61,62. The irony of the President’s critique was noted by commentators, as Kimmel had never actually hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, having only appeared in a tribute segment for David Letterman in 201263,64.

Conclusion

The 48th Kennedy Center Honors, culminating in the President’s hosting of the Sunday night gala, represented the final, dramatic act in the political re-engineering of a major American cultural institution65. The event was less a non-partisan celebration of the arts and more a highly visible demonstration of the President’s commitment to reshaping the nation’s cultural landscape in his own image66. From the selection of honorees screened for political acceptability to the physical redesign of the award and the unprecedented role of the President as host, every element of the ceremony was a departure from the centre’s half-century of tradition67,68. The public comparison to a political adversary like Jimmy Kimmel underscored the President’s view of the event as a ratings-driven performance, blurring the lines between political leadership and celebrity entertainment69,70. The full impact of the overhaul, including the long-term effects on the centre’s programming, fundraising, and reputation within the arts community, remains to be seen71,72. The televised broadcast of the gala, scheduled for later in December, will serve as the public’s first opportunity to judge the President’s performance as a cultural impresario73.

References

  1. Trump To Host Kennedy Center Honors, First For Sitting President: Takes Jab At Kimmel, Predicts Record Ratings - Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)

    Confirms Trump is the first sitting president to host and provides context on the Kimmel jab and ratings prediction.

  2. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the event date (Dec 2025) and the unprecedented nature of the hosting.

  3. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Lists the 2025 honorees (Kiss, Crawford, Strait, Stallone, Gaynor) and mentions the overhaul.

  4. Trump visits Kennedy Center and announces 2025 honorees. See the full list. - CBS News

    Confirms the honorees and Trump's involvement in the selection process.

  5. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Provides the exact quote comparing himself to Jimmy Kimmel and calling him 'horrible.'

  6. Trump says if he can't top 'horrible' Jimmy Kimmel's talent, he 'shouldn't be the president'

    Reinforces the exact quote and the context of the comparison to his presidency.

  7. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Details the institutional overhaul, the board ousting, and the political nature of the event.

  8. Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul prompts resignations, canceled shows - The Post

    Lists high-profile resignations (Rhimes, Folds, Rae) and the cancellation of *Hamilton*.

  9. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Confirms the board stacking, the firing of Deborah Rutter, and the resignations of Shonda Rhimes, Renée Fleming, and Ben Folds.

  10. Trump says he will fire multiple Kennedy Center board members and name himself chair

    Details Trump's February 2025 announcement to fire board members and install himself as chairman.

  11. Trump touts himself as Kennedy Center awards host, saying he is 'king of ratings'

    Provides the 'king of ratings' quote and the context of his March 2025 visit and criticism of the building.

  12. What's Going on With President Trump and the Kennedy Center? All About the 2025 Honors

    Provides historical context on the Kennedy Center as a memorial and the purpose of the Honors.

  13. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the move of the medal ceremony to the Oval Office.

  14. Trump says he's hosting the Kennedy Center Honors recognizing Stallone, Kiss, Gaynor and others

    Mentions the traditional role of the President watching from the box.

  15. The Kennedy Center Announces 48th Class of Honorees George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, And Sylvester Stallone

    Provides the official announcement of the 48th class of honorees.

  16. And here is your host … Trump casts himself for Kennedy Center honours - The Guardian

    Mentions Trump skipping the event during his first term after the 2017 boycott.

  17. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Mentions Trump ignoring the Kennedy Center during his first term.

  18. Trump says he's firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman

    Confirms the February 2025 timing of the board takeover announcement.

  19. Trump says he will appoint himself chair of Kennedy Center

    Confirms Trump's Truth Social post announcing his plan to fire board members and name himself chair.

  20. Trump says he will fire multiple Kennedy Center board members and name himself chair

    Confirms the board has 36 members and the unprecedented nature of the firings.

  21. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Provides the 'no longer be 'woke' programming' quote.

  22. Trump says he will fire multiple Kennedy Center board members and name himself chair

    Provides the 'make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN' quote.

  23. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Confirms the firing of board members not appointed by him, including David Rubenstein, and his $100 million donation.

  24. What's Going on With President Trump and the Kennedy Center? All About the 2025 Honors

    Confirms the purge of 18 Democratic members and replacement with allies like Usha Vance and Susie Wiles.

  25. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Confirms the new board elected Trump as chairman, the first sitting president to serve in this capacity.

  26. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the new board was stacked with GOP supporters who voted him in as chairman.

  27. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Confirms the firing of Deborah Rutter.

  28. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Confirms Rutter was ousted and had planned to step down at the end of 2025.

  29. Trump names loyalist Ric Grenell as interim Kennedy Center leader

    Confirms Richard Grenell's appointment as interim executive director (later president).

  30. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Confirms the high-profile resignations.

  31. Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul prompts resignations, canceled shows - The Post

    Confirms Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds resignations.

  32. Donald Trump Has Taken Over the Kennedy Center - Vulture

    Confirms Renée Fleming's resignation.

  33. Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul prompts resignations, canceled shows - The Post

    Confirms *Hamilton* producer Jeffrey Seller cancelled the 2026 run.

  34. Trump touts himself as Kennedy Center awards host, saying he is 'king of ratings'

    Provides Seller's quote about not participating in the 'new culture.'

  35. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Mentions plummeting ticket sales for the National Symphony Orchestra.

  36. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Provides the '98% involved' quote.

  37. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms Trump was deeply involved in choosing the honorees.

  38. And here is your host … Trump casts himself for Kennedy Center honours - The Guardian

    Provides the 'turned down plenty' and 'too woke' quotes.

  39. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Mentions Stallone's support for Trump.

  40. President Trump Spotlights 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees: American Icons in Performing Arts - The White House

    Provides details on the honorees' careers.

  41. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Mentions Crawford's selection is reflective of Trump's taste for *Phantom of the Opera*.

  42. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the new medal design by Tiffany & Co.

  43. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Describes the new medal design (gold disc, navy blue lanyard) replacing the old rainbow ribbon.

  44. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the new medal was designed, created, and donated by Tiffany & Co.

  45. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the medal ceremony was moved from the State Department to the White House/Oval Office.

  46. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the medal ceremony was held on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

  47. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Provides the 'most accomplished and renowned class' quote.

  48. Trump touts himself as Kennedy Center awards host, saying he is 'king of ratings'

    Mentions the promise to 'fully renovate' the centre.

  49. Trump presents medals to Kennedy Center honorees in Oval Office - Washington Examiner

    Provides the 'mistreated' and renovation quotes, and the $257 million funding.

  50. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Lists previous hosts like Stephen Colbert and Walter Cronkite.

  51. Trump says he's hosting the Kennedy Center Honors recognizing Stallone, Kiss, Gaynor and others

    Lists previous hosts like Walter Cronkite and Stephen Colbert.

  52. Trump touts himself as Kennedy Center awards host, saying he is 'king of ratings'

    Provides the 'king of ratings' quote and the *Apprentice* context.

  53. Trump says he's hosting the Kennedy Center Honors recognizing Stallone, Kiss, Gaynor and others

    Confirms Trump agreed to host 'at the request of a certain television network.'

  54. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Confirms the comparison was made during the Saturday medal ceremony.

  55. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Provides the prediction that it will be the 'highest-rated show that they've ever done.'

  56. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms Kimmel and Trump are sharp critics of each other.

  57. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Provides the 'Jimmy Kimmel was horrible' quote.

  58. Trump says if he can't top 'horrible' Jimmy Kimmel's talent, he 'shouldn't be the president'

    Provides the 'If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel... then I don't think I should be president' quote.

  59. Trump Says He Shouldn't Be President If Jimmy Kimmel Is More Talented | Kennedy Center Honorees 2025 - YouTube

    Mentions the rivalry dates back to 2016.

  60. 'Let's Do This': Jimmy Kimmel Can't Wait for Trump to Host Kennedy Center Honors

    Mentions Kimmel's 2024 Oscars zinger and Trump's criticism of his hosting.

  61. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Mentions Kimmel's program was briefly suspended earlier in 2025 following comments related to the killing of Charlie Kirk.

  62. Trump Says He Shouldn't Be President If Jimmy Kimmel Is More Talented | Kennedy Center Honorees 2025 - YouTube

    Mentions the feud escalated this year when ABC temporarily pulled Kimmel's show.

  63. Trump Slams Kimmel as “Horrible” Kennedy Center Host—Kimmel Never Hosted

    Clarifies that Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors.

  64. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms Kimmel has hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Academy Award multiple times.

  65. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Provides context on the event being the culmination of the takeover.

  66. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Discusses the event as a demonstration of Trump's imprint on cultural life.

  67. What to know about the Kennedy Center Honors as Trump hosts - The Washington Post

    Summarises the changes: hosting, honoree selection, and turbulent year.

  68. Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

    Confirms the changes to the medal and the ceremony location.

  69. Trump Says He Shouldn't Be President If Jimmy Kimmel Is More Talented | Kennedy Center Honorees 2025 - YouTube

    Discusses the blurring of political leadership and entertainment prowess.

  70. Trump hosts Kennedy Center honorees and teases hosting skills: 'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews' - The Guardian

    Confirms Trump's focus on ratings and reviews.

  71. Donald Trump's Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political

    Mentions the long-term effects on programming and ticket sales.

  72. Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul prompts resignations, canceled shows - The Post

    Mentions the impact on the arts community.

  73. Trump says he's hosting the Kennedy Center Honors recognizing Stallone, Kiss, Gaynor and others

    Confirms the broadcast is scheduled for later in December.