President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has not only reignited political debates but also sent shockwaves through the American arts community. On August 14, 2025, Trump announced the honorees for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors—a list that includes disco legend Gloria Gaynor, country superstar George Strait, English actor Michael Crawford, rock band Kiss, and Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone. The announcement, however, has been anything but routine, as Trump’s personal involvement and overhaul of the Kennedy Center’s leadership have stirred controversy and prompted both celebration and protest across the cultural landscape.
This year’s batch of honorees, all in their 70s and 80s, are household names whose careers largely blossomed in the 1980s—a decade that also marked Trump’s ascendancy as a real estate mogul and public figure. According to the Associated Press, Trump emphasized that he personally vetted the list, rejecting some candidates he labeled as “wokesters,” though he declined to specify which artists were passed over. “We’re going to bring it to a higher level than it ever hit,” Trump declared, promising to restore the Kennedy Center as a “crown jewel” of American arts and culture, complete with a full renovation of its aging infrastructure.
While the president’s promise of a “major comeback” for the venerable institution might sound like music to some ears, others are singing a different tune. Trump’s aggressive moves at the Kennedy Center began shortly after his return to office. Earlier in 2025, he fired several members of the governing board—including the president and chairman—and replaced them with loyalists, according to Fox News Digital. This shake-up led to the resignations of prominent figures such as showrunner Shonda Rhimes, singer Renée Fleming, and actress Issa Rae, who either stepped down from their roles or canceled planned performances in protest.
Trump’s new role as chairman marks a dramatic reversal from his first term, when he skipped the Kennedy Center Honors altogether after several honorees declined to attend the White House reception in protest of his policies. Now, with the reins firmly in his hands, Trump has not only appointed himself as host of the December 2025 ceremony but has also made clear his vision for the future of the arts in America. In a February post on Truth Social, he wrote that the Kennedy Center would “make a major comeback,” and teased a possible name change—“GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.”
The president’s hands-on approach has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters. Anna Navarro, cohost of The View, took to Instagram on August 14 to urge Gloria Gaynor to decline the honor. Navarro, who described Gaynor as a “goddess,” expressed deep disappointment that the singer’s signature song “I Will Survive”—an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community—would be celebrated at a ceremony hosted by Trump. “I wish she wouldn’t accept an award from the hands of a man who has attacked the rights and history of women, people of color and LGBTQ,” Navarro wrote. “Trump is a stain on the prestige and significance of the KCH. Don’t do it, Gloria!”
Gaynor, 81, is the only Black artist among this year’s honorees and is beloved not only for her disco-era hits but for her enduring influence on marginalized communities. Her music, particularly “I Will Survive,” has long been a rallying cry for empowerment and resilience. While Gaynor herself has not issued a direct public response to the controversy, her representative told Fox News Digital after the announcement, “She was beyond blessed and honored to be receiving this award. My hope is that in accepting this honor, I can continue with the inspirational phenomenon that began with ‘I Will Survive.’ Sharing my music and art on a global level to provide encouragement, hope, empowerment, inspiration, understanding, and unity is the core of my purpose.”
Gaynor’s team has not publicly addressed Navarro’s comments, and her social media account appeared to be deactivated on August 14, leaving fans and critics alike to speculate about her next move. The question of whether she will attend the December ceremony remains open—and her decision is likely to be closely watched by both her supporters and those critical of Trump’s leadership.
The other honorees also bring storied careers to the table. George Strait, 73, holds the record for the most wins and nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards and recently headlined a benefit concert for flood victims in Texas. Kiss, formed in 1973, is famous for hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and their iconic face paint. Michael Crawford, 83, is best known for originating the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and leads a charity for sick children in the UK. Sylvester Stallone, 79, is a three-time Academy Award nominee and was appointed by Trump as a “special ambassador” to Hollywood, a role the president said would help bring back film business lost to other countries.
Yet, the spotlight remains firmly on the intersection of politics and culture. Trump’s critics argue that his takeover of the Kennedy Center is part of a broader effort to reshape American institutions in his image, pushing a restrictive conservative agenda and marginalizing artists who don’t align with his views. According to the Black Promoters Collective, Trump’s vetting process for honorees and his vow to end programming he deems inappropriate—such as drag shows “targeting” children—have only fueled the controversy.
Supporters of Trump, meanwhile, see his intervention as a necessary corrective to what they view as the “woke” direction of the arts world. They praise his commitment to restoring the Kennedy Center’s physical grandeur and cultural relevance, and they welcome the inclusion of popular figures from the president’s own heyday. The Kennedy Center itself, in a statement on its social media feed, acknowledged Trump’s advocacy and the planned renovations, calling him an honored guest during his third visit since January 2025.
As the December ceremony approaches, the tension between celebration and protest shows no sign of abating. Gaynor’s silence, the resignations from the Kennedy Center’s leadership, and the president’s promises of a “Golden Age in arts and culture” have set the stage for a high-stakes showdown over the meaning and future of one of America’s most prestigious cultural honors.
For now, all eyes are on Gloria Gaynor and her fellow honorees. Will they attend the ceremony and accept their awards, or will they join the growing chorus of dissent? The answer could shape not just the legacy of the Kennedy Center Honors, but the broader conversation about the role of politics in the arts for years to come.
