President Donald Trump presented the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with newly designed gold medallions during a Saturday evening ceremony in the Oval Office, marking a departure from tradition in both venue and design.
The honorees included country music legend George Strait, Broadway performer Michael Crawford, disco artist Gloria Gaynor, actor Sylvester Stallone, and members of the rock band Kiss. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and the daughter of the late Ace Frehley attended on behalf of the iconic rock group.
The President, dressed in formal evening attire, conducted the ceremony ahead of Sunday night’s official Kennedy Center program. Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter attended the presentation.
As members of the press corps assembled in the Rose Garden awaiting entry, Gaynor’s signature hit “I Will Survive” played through outdoor speakers. The musical selections continued with Kiss’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and other contemporary classics.
“It is a privilege to pay tribute to the very best in American arts and culture, and that is what you have beside me,” the President stated. “They are incredible people. I know most of them, and I have been a fan of all of them.”
Trump characterized the gathering as exceptional in the history of the awards. “This is perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center honorees ever assembled,” he said.
The President presented each medallion individually, offering specific recognition tailored to each recipient’s achievements. He referred to Strait as the “King of Country,” honored Gaynor as disco’s “First Lady,” and acknowledged Crawford as Broadway’s “Phantom” in reference to his celebrated performance in Phantom of the Opera. Kiss received recognition as rock and roll’s “hottest band in the world,” while Stallone was praised as one of Hollywood’s “greatest visionaries.”
The medallions represent a new design commissioned from Tiffany & Company. According to White House officials, the Kennedy Center has moved away from what was described as “the tacky rainbow sash design of medallions past” in favor of the new gold presentation pieces.
Later that evening, at the Kennedy Center Honors dinner held in the Benjamin Franklin Ballroom at the State Department, Trump announced his intention to attend Sunday’s ceremony at the Kennedy Center itself.
“I will be doing something that has not been done before: the president of the United States is hosting at the request of a certain television network,” he remarked.
The Kennedy Center Honors, established in 1978, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts. The annual awards ceremony has traditionally maintained a complex relationship with sitting presidents, with attendance varying across different administrations.
This year’s ceremony marks a notable shift in presidential involvement, with Trump taking a more active role in both the preliminary presentation and the planned attendance at the main event.
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