The Kennedy Center Honors took center stage as Donald Trump hosted the awards at the performing arts center in Washington. The event marked a major moment in Trump’s second term, as it showed his growing control over the famous venue and his renewed focus on the arts. The program honored well-known names from music, film, and theater, bringing wide attention to the long-running celebration. This year’s honorees were actor Sylvester Stallone, disco star Gloria Gaynor, country singer George Strait, stage performer Michael Crawford, and the rock group Kiss. The ceremony is often viewed as the highest lifetime award for performers in the United States. The list covered many decades of entertainment history and drew strong public interest. Trump played a key role in choosing the honorees. He stayed away from the awards during his first term, but he has taken a different path this time. In his second term, he removed the previous president of the center, placed new members on the board, and became the chair himself. He also ordered a full renovation of the building, which he said would bring new life to the space. As he arrived for the show with the first lady, he told reporters that the center would soon be restored. The changes extend beyond the Kennedy Center. Trump also began a large construction project at the White House. He ordered the removal of the East Wing so a very large ballroom could be built. The new Kennedy Center president, Ric Grenell, is leading the theater’s upgrades. He is also redesigning events and adding new programs for global attention. One of these events is the World Cup final draw, which took place on the same weekend. Grenell’s term has not been smooth. Staff members have come and gone, and some in the arts world have raised concerns about the center’s new direction. Even so, the main awards continued as planned. In the Oval Office before the show, Trump met with the honorees. He presented them with new gold medallions with blue ribbons. Earlier awards used rainbow-colored ribbons, but the new version marked another change made under Trump’s leadership. During the meeting, Trump praised each honoree. He said they helped shape American music, film, and theater. He called them leaders in their fields and said their work had influenced people across the country for many years. The performers, each with long careers, have fans across many generations. In the past, some award recipients challenged Trump. During his first term, several honorees said they would not attend if he appeared. Norman Lear, a past award recipient, said he would skip the event if Trump came. For that reason, Trump did not take part in the honors during his first term. That made this year’s involvement a major shift. Trump said he had a strong say in the 2025 list and even rejected a few suggestions because he felt they did not align with his views. Stallone is close to Trump and has been described as one of his “special ambassadors.” The political views of the other honorees are less well known. Kiss members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss became famous in the 1970s with hit songs. Strait is known for his country music success. Gaynor became an icon with her song “I Will Survive.” Michael Crawford is famous for his lead role in a major stage show. Stallone built his career with action films from the Rocky and Rambo series. Some of the artists have spoken about politics over the years. Gaynor has given money to Republican groups. Simmons once praised Trump but later raised concerns about Trump’s actions and public comments. Stanley criticized Trump after the 2020 election but urged unity after the 2024 result. As the Kennedy Center Honors moved forward, the event showed how the center is changing under Trump. It also showed how the arts world and politics continue to meet in new ways. The awards will be broadcast on December 23, allowing a wider audience to watch the celebration.