Trump Hosts 48th Kennedy Center Honors, Becoming First U.S. President to Host the Gala
President Donald Trump on the evening of December 7 hosted the 48th Kennedy Center Honors tribute gala at the Opera House of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, becoming the first U.S. president to personally host the ceremony since the Honors began in 1978. The five honorees are country singer George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, singer Gloria Gaynor and the rock band KISS.
In his opening remarks, Trump said it was the first time a president of the United States had ever hosted the event and that he would try to act like Johnny Carson. He introduced each honoree, calling Strait the undisputed king of country and Stallone perhaps the greatest underdog in the history of cinema, and noting that the late KISS member Ace Frehley was represented by his daughter. First Lady Melania Trump walked the red carpet with the president.
The day before, Trump had presented this year's Honors medals to the five honorees in the Oval Office, and the honorees then attended a tribute dinner at the State Department. Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center's board this year, and he personally announced this year's class in August. The gala was taped for broadcast on December 23 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Related: 48th Kennedy Center Honors Announced: George Strait, Stallone and KISS Among Five Honorees
Source: The White House
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：2025年8月，特朗普在华盛顿肯尼迪中心公布本届荣誉奖名单（资料照片）。白宫官方照片，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Trump announcing this year's Honors class at the Kennedy Center in Washington in August 2025 (file photo). Official White House photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- 2025-08-1348th Kennedy Center Honors Announced: George Strait, Stallone and KISS Among Five Honorees
- 2025-12-06Trump Presents Kennedy Center Honors Medals to Stallone, Strait, KISS, Gaynor and Crawford at the White House
- 2025-12-07Trump Hosts 48th Kennedy Center Honors, Becoming First U.S. President to Host the GalaThis story
