On December 6, President Donald Trump presented the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees with their medals in the Oval Office. Among the recipients was the legendary “King of Country,” George Strait. (Photo credit: The White House / YouTube)
2025 Kennedy Center Honorees Gather at the White House
The annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will air on December 23, but as tradition holds, the honorees received their medals earlier in the month.
During a formal gathering in the Oval Office on Saturday, December 6, President Trump—who serves as chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees—welcomed the honorees and described the group as “truly exceptional.”
Expressing his appreciation, Trump said, “This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted, and unified millions of Americans.” He went on to call the 2025 honorees “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.”
The 48th Class of Honorees Includes:
- Country artist George Strait
- Stage actor Michael Crawford
- Film actor Sylvester Stallone
- Disco singer Gloria Gaynor
- Rock band KISS
Highlighting their impact, Trump said:
“We can hardly imagine country music without its ‘King of Country,’ or American disco without its ‘First Lady,’ or Broadway without its ‘Phantom,’ or Rock ‘n’ Roll without its hottest band, or Hollywood without one of its greatest visionaries.”
He concluded by thanking the honorees “on behalf of the American people” for their contributions to the cultural fabric of the nation.
Trump Presents George Strait With His Medal
“We have country music legend George Strait,” Trump said, briefly pausing after a teleprompter issue.
Strait appeared in his trademark cowboy hat, paired with a formal suit and bowtie. As he stepped forward to accept the medal, he motioned to remove his hat. Trump paused and told him, “If you want to leave that on, you can. I think we can get it through.”
Strait chose to remove the hat anyway, prompting Trump to remark, “Oh, he’s got good hair.” Strait replied with a grin, “A little bit. I’ve still got a little bit.”
Trump joked back, “I’m surprised. Sometimes they take it off and there’s not a lot.” Strait laughed again: “There’s not a lot.”
After the exchange, Trump placed the medal around Strait’s neck, and the two shook hands before the ceremony continued with the remaining honorees.
About the Kennedy Center Honors
Following the presentations, Trump spoke about ongoing renovations at the Kennedy Center. “The building is fully renovated,” he said. “We’re bringing it back to a level that I don’t think any place in the country will see.”
He noted improvements such as new marble and upgraded acoustics, emphasizing the importance of sound quality in a performing arts venue.
Earlier in the year, on February 12, Trump was unanimously elected chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees after replacing several previous appointees. His new board members include U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Second Lady Usha Vance, Lee Greenwood, and television host Laura Ingraham. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serves as an ex officio member, and First Lady Melania Trump remains an honorary chair, as is customary.
During a March 17 board meeting, Trump described the Kennedy Center as an essential part of restoring Washington, D.C., stating, “It’s a very big part of the fabric of Washington, D.C., and we’re going to make our capital great again, just like we’re going to make our country great again.”
Later that month, in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, he mentioned plans to update seating, décor, and other aspects of the facility, saying, “It needs a lot of work.”
However, some critics have expressed concerns about how programming and artistic independence will evolve under the new leadership. In audio obtained by CBS, Trump told the board that future honorees should be “slightly more conservative.”