US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2025.

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Robert Birsel

By Robert Birsel

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President Donald Trump hosted the annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday; the first time a president will command the stage instead of sitting in an Opera House box.

Trump presented the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with their medals during a Saturday ceremony in the Oval Office, calling the group "perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class" ever assembled.

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US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: (L-R) Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Paul Stanley of KISS attend the 48th Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

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US country music singer and Kennedy Center Honoree George Strait (2L) and his wife Norma Strait (3L) arrive with family for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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This year's recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, rock band KISS, and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

The show is scheduled to air on December 23 on CBS and Paramount+.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: (L-R) Jennifer Flavin Stallone and Sylvester Stallone attend the 48th Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

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English actor and Kennedy Center Honoree Michael Crawford and Natasha MacAller arrive for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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US singer and Kennedy Center Honoree Gloria Gaynor arrives for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: (L-R) Shellye Crabb, Jason Crabb, Laura Osnes, and Nathan Johnson attend the 48th Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos attend the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center on December 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. The 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees are Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. (Photo by Allison Robbert/Getty Images)

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