by Guy Denton
If Trump’s goal is to create a Kennedy Center for the people, then this year’s Honors ceremony seemed entirely designed to vindicate their tastes.
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Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Paul Stanley of KISS attend the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., December 7, 2025.
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
The Kennedy Center Honors is an inherently exclusive affair. Tickets to the annual celebration of luminaries in American performing arts are largely reserved for patrons of the venue, and the guest list typically consists of prominent names in culture and politics. But that didn’t stop President Trump’s populist tendencies from permeating the 48th Honors ceremony this past Sunday night.
In previous years, honorees were chosen by a special committee of trustees and artists.
About the Author
Guy Denton is a William F. Buckley Jr. Fellow in Political Journalism.
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The Kennedy Center Honors is an inherently exclusive affair. Tickets to the annual celebration of luminaries in American performing arts are largely reserved for patrons of the venue, and the guest list typically consists of prominent names in culture and politics. But that didn’t stop President Trump’s populist tendencies from permeating the 48th Honors ceremony this past Sunday night.
In previous years, honorees were chosen by a special committee of trustees and artists.
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About the Author
Guy Denton is a William F. Buckley Jr. Fellow in Political Journalism.
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