Trump Says He Will Host The Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony

President Donald Trump connected Wednesday said that he would big this year's Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, nan latest move by nan president to revamp nan Washington, D.C., taste institution successful his image.

"It's going to beryllium a large evening. I've been asked to host," nan president said connected Wednesday arsenic he was announcing this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees. Trump, who appointed himself chair of nan Kennedy Center Board of Trustees earlier this year, said that he was reluctant to big erstwhile he was first presented pinch nan idea.

"I said, 'I don't care. I'm president of nan United States. I won't do it'. They said, 'please,'" he said.

"I didn't want to do it? Okay? They're going to say, 'He insisted.' I did not insist. But I deliberation it will beryllium rather successful," nan president added.

The White House did not respond to clarifying questions astir what Trump's domiciled successful hosting will look like, including whether that intends he'll emcee nan ceremony.

Past hosts of nan Kennedy Center Honors see Queen Latifah, who hosted past year, and David Letterman, who hosted successful 2021.

On Wednesday, Trump announced this year's Kennedy Center Honorees, which see vocalist George Strait, character and comedian Michael Crawford, character Sylvester Stallone, vocalist Gloria Gaynor and nan set KISS.

Since nan commencement of his 2nd term, Trump has often spoken astir nan Kennedy Center and nan changes he hopes to make there.

In February, nan president abruptly fired respective Kennedy Center committee members and installed himself arsenic chair of nan board.

In a station connected Truth Social astatine nan time, nan president wrote, "At my direction, we are going to make nan Kennedy Center successful Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN."

"Just past year, nan Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our younker — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must bespeak nan brightest STARS connected its shape from each crossed our Nation. For nan Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!," he added.

On Wednesday, Trump said astir his February decision, saying, "We ended nan woke governmental programming, and we’re restoring nan Kennedy Center arsenic nan premier venue for performing arts anyplace successful nan country, anyplace successful nan world."

The president besides previewed forthcoming building astatine nan Kennedy Center, telling attendees astatine Wednesday's arena that "with nan thief of Congress, we secured nan captious backing basal to rebuild nan building," adding that nan seats successful nan venue would beryllium replaced.

President Donald Trump speaks during nan unveiling of nan Kennedy Center Honors nominees connected August 13, 2025, astatine nan Kennedy Center successful Washington, DC.Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images

"All of nan seats will beryllium taken out. The room is being wholly rebuilt," Trump added.

Trump has besides boosted an effort by a group of House Republicans to rename nan Kennedy Center aft first woman Melania Trump — a move that could perchance break nan law that created nan halfway successful nan first place.

In a Truth Social post earlier this week announcing his Wednesday sojourn to nan Kennedy Center, nan president joked astir nan imaginable renaming, writing, "GREAT Nominees for nan TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS. They will beryllium announced Wednesday."

Trump has besides sought changes astatine different Washington taste institutions, including nan Smithsonian Museum. On Tuesday, nan White House confirmed it was conducting a reappraisal of nan Smithsonian's depository exhibitions to make judge they align pinch Trump's position of history.

Trump is besides overseeing awesome renovations at nan White House, including nan Rose Garden and nan White House ballroom.