Trump highlighted the honorees—actor Sylvester Stallone, singer-actor Michael Crawford, rock band KISS, country artist George Strait, and disco singer Gloria Gaynor—calling them “true GREATS in the History of Entertainment.” The event, taped on December 7 and aired on December 23, marked Trump’s first involvement in the Honors after he restructured the Kennedy Center’s board earlier in 2025, appointing himself chair and influencing the selection of recipients.
The broadcast referred to the event amid the recent renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include Trump’s name (e.g., “Trump-Kennedy Center”), following a board vote described by the White House as unanimous in recognition of his efforts to revitalize the institution. However, the change sparked significant controversy: Kennedy family members criticized it as inappropriate for a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, some Democrats and legal experts argued it requires congressional approval, and a lawsuit was filed to block it. The program drew the lowest viewership in the event’s history, with preliminary ratings of about 2.65 million.
Trump Says He’s Hosting The Kennedy Center Honors, Floats Idea Of Switching To An Alternative Career: ‘Would You Like Me To Leave The Presidency?’
Ananya Gairola
Fri, December 26, 2025 at 5:30 AM GMT+7
4 min read
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump confirmed he is serving as “Master of Ceremony” for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ahead of the televised broadcast.
Trump Jokes About Life After The White House
Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social ahead of the televised broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors, which he hosted earlier this month and is set to air Tuesday night on Paramount Skydance Corp’s (NASDAQ:PSKY) CBS and Paramount+.
At the urging of the board and what he described as widespread public support, Trump said he stepped in as “Master of Ceremony” and asked followers to judge his performance.
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He quipped that if viewers thought he did really well, they might want him to “leave the presidency” and take up hosting as a full-time job instead.
“If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make ‘hosting’ a full time job?” he wrote on Truth Social.
The president also spotlighted this year’s honorees, calling them “true greats” of entertainment, including Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, rock band KISS, country music icon George Strait and disco legend Gloria Gaynor.
Source: Truth Social
Trump previously built a high-profile television career, hosting NBC’s “The Apprentice” from 2004 to 2015, before going on to co-host “The Celebrity Apprentice,” where well-known figures competed in business challenges to raise money for charity.
NBC is owned by Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), through its subsidiary NBCUniversal.
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A Storied Institution Under The Spotlight
First established in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors recognize individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on American culture and the arts, according to the center’s mission.
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors will debut Tuesday, Dec. 23, airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Renaming Push Sparks Legal, Political Backlash
Trump’s ties to the Kennedy Center have been fraught with controversy, particularly after he restructured its board and the institution was subsequently renamed to include both his name and that of President Kennedy.
The administration later directed officials to add Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center building, framing the move as a bipartisan tribute to both Trump and former President John F. Kennedy.
I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 18, 2025
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Md) said the directive is unlawful.
I am introducing legislation to stand up to this Administration and to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. Congress must stop the “Trump branding” of our national treasures and memorials, particularly this national treasure which uplifts our national arts and… pic.twitter.com/z2u4eNNI5T
— Rep. April McClain Delaney (@RepAprilDelaney) December 22, 2025
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Members of the Kennedy family also condemned the move. Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, said the administration’s record on artists and free expression clashes with the values the Kennedy Center represents.
(1/2) President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists, and comedians, and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our nation better and more just.
— Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) December 18, 2025
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) argued that renaming the center would be akin to renaming the Lincoln Memorial, calling it legally and historically untenable.
The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says. https://t.co/VpZhNvx7So
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) December 18, 2025
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Photo Courtesy: Joshua Sukoff on Shutterstock.com
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Carrie McCabe, Senior Deals Writer
Updated Sun, December 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM GMT+7
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