• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, August 19, 2025

CBS’s annual year-end telecast of “The Kennedy Center Honors” is shaping up as the “Trump Center Honors” in the wake of President Trump naming himself host of this year’s event.

At a news conference last Wednesday, the President took it upon himself to announce this year’s five nominees. In his remarks, Trump estimated that he was “98 percent involved” in the selection process.

He also took the opportunity to announce that he had extended an invitation to himself to host the show and he accepted.

The five honorees that were 98 percent chosen by the President of the United States are country star George Strait, Broadway star Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor and KISS.

“They all went through me,” Trump said of his hand-chosen honorees. “I turned down plenty that were too woke.”

Tom Cruise was reportedly chosen as a nominee, but declined the honor, citing scheduling conflicts. 

Cynics who are not satisfied with that reason are speculating that Cruise simply wanted to avoid having to interact with Trump because of how that might play in his Hollywood community.

Trump has set his sights on “reforming” the august John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington ever since his new term started last January.

In February, he ousted chairwoman Deborah Rutter and installed himself as chairman of the government-owned institution.

“The Kennedy Center Honors” has been a yearly staple of CBS since their inception in 1978. 

Last year’s was the 47th. This year’s will be No. 48. Online sources say CBS’s long-time rights to air the event expire after this year’s show. 

As host of “The 48th Kennedy Center Honors,” Trump joins the distinguished company of previous hosts such as Walter Cronkite, who hosted the event for 21 years (1981-2002); and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the Center’s namesake, who hosted it for nine years (2003-12). Last year’s host was Queen Latifah.

Trump’s claim that he was 98% involved in choosing this year’s honorees suggests that he may take a similarly hands-on approach to producing the actual show too.

If so, he would have a say in all aspects of the production such as presenters and performers, seating arrangements, scenery, music, choreography, catering, lighting, costumes, make-up, publicity, parking, concessions, and most importantly, the number of cameras that will be trained on him at all times.

“The Kennedy Center Honors” show has traditionally been scheduled to air sometime between Christmas and New Year’s.

CBS said on Tuesday that no airdate has yet been set for this year’s “Honors.’