Donald Trump said on Monday that this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. EST, with the US president himself hosting the event.
Trump invites viewers to judge his hosting
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he was hosting the ceremony “at the request of the Board, and just about everybody else in America”, and invited viewers to assess his performance as master of ceremonies.
“Tell me what you think of my ‘Master of Ceremony’ abilities,” Trump wrote. He added, in a joking aside, “If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make ‘hosting’ a full time job?”
Changes at the Kennedy Center
Trump’s administration has introduced sweeping changes at the Kennedy Center, including removing the chairman of its board of trustees and the institution’s president, and installing Trump himself along with one of his allies, former ambassador Richard Grenell.
Last week, the White House announced that the board had voted to rename the institution the Trump–Kennedy Center.
A first for Trump at the honours
This year’s Kennedy Center Honors, recorded earlier this month, marks Trump’s first appearance at the annual celebration across his two terms in office. He also hosted the event, breaking with tradition; in previous years, presidents typically sat with the honourees and watched the performance rather than serving as host.
Promoting the broadcast, Trump said it would be “honoring true GREATS in the History of Entertainment”. He repeated his appeal to viewers, writing again: “Tell me what you think of my ‘Master of Ceremony’ abilities.”
Who are the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients?
US President Donald Trump announced this year’s honourees over the summer. They are:
How to watch the Kennedy Center Honors
What: President Trump hosts the Kennedy Center Honors, celebrating George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, KISS, Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone
Date: Tuesday, 23 December 2025
On TV: CBS television stations
Online stream: Paramount+
A new look for the Kennedy Centre honours
This year also introduces a redesigned Kennedy Center Honors medallion. The rainbow-coloured ribbons with three gold bars traditionally presented to recipients have been replaced with gold medallions.
Designed by Tiffany & Co., each medallion features an etching of the Kennedy Center on one side with rainbow colours running through it. The reverse bears the honouree’s name and the year of the award. The medallion hangs from a navy blue ribbon, a colour the centre described as “associated with dignity and tradition.”
