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Trump visits Kennedy Center and announces 2025 honorees. See the full list.
Washington — President Trump visited the Kennedy Center Wednesday and announced this year’s list of Kennedy Center Honorees, after his administration took steps to overhaul the D.C. cultural institution in recent months.
“This is a very exciting project,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re going to do something that will go rapidly, relatively inexpensively, and we’ll make it better than it ever was.”
The president said he was “delighted to be here as we officially announce the incredible talented artists who will be celebrated later this year at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.” He added that he had been asked to host the 48th annual Honors this year: “I have agreed to host — do you believe what I have to do?”
The president then announced the honorees, saying the board selected a “truly exceptional class” this year.
2025 Kennedy Center Honorees
- George Strait: Country music star George Strait, known as the “King of Country Music,” has been performing for over 30 years. He has 60 No. 1 country singles, more than any other artist in any genre, has sold 120 million records and produced 33 platinum albums, more than any other artist. “He’s beloved by hundreds of millions of people all over the world,” the president said of Strait.
- Michael Crawford: Actor and singer Michael Crawford was the original Tony Award-winning “Phantom of the Opera” when the show opened on Broadway in 1988. “I think he’s one of the greatest talents I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Trump said.
- Sylvester Stallone: Actor, director and bodybuilder Sylvester Stallone’s Hollywood career spans over five decades — he’s best known for the role of boxer Rocky Balboa in the blockbuster hits “Rocky” and its five sequels, which he wrote and starred in. He also played John Rambo, a soldier with PTSD, in five films. Mr. Trump referred to him as “a friend of mine” and “a real talent — never been given credit for the talent.”
- Gloria Gaynor: Disco star Gloria Gaynor is best known for her anthem “I Will Survive,” a song Mr. Trump said he’s heard “thousands of times.” “It’s one of those few that get better every time you hear it,” he said.
- KISS: The rock band KISS was formed in 1973 in New York City by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. The band, which wore face paint and staged elaborate performances featured pyrotechnics and fire breathing, became a pop culture phenomenon in the 1970s. The president referred to the band as “one of the greatest rock bands of all time” and noted it has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
“The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, an outstanding group — incredible,” Mr. Trump said. “We can’t wait to celebrate the Kennedy Center Honors.”
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
The Kennedy Center previewed the announcement Tuesday, writing in a post on X: “A country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House…”
The Kennedy Center Honors, a televised gala, take place annually in December. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is directed and produced by CBS and airs on the network.
Last year’s honorees included singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, composer Arturo Sandoval and the Apollo Theater.
Trump era at the Kennedy Center
In recent months, the president and his allies have broadened their influence over the Kennedy Center. After the White House accused the institution of being “woke” and scrutinized its finances earlier this year, Mr. Trump ousted Kennedy Center board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, replacing them with his allies. Soon afterward, the new board replaced the center’s chairman, David Rubenstein, with Mr. Trump, and Richard Grenell became the Kennedy Center’s interim president.
The Kennedy Center was designated by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy in 1964.
Along with efforts to reshape the center’s governing body and performances, the president outlined during a visit to the famed opera house in March that “we’re going to make a lot of changes — including the seats, the decor — pretty much everything. It needs a lot of work.” In July, House Republicans advanced a measure that would rename the Kennedy Center’s opera house after first lady Melania Trump.
The president said Wednesday that in the months since he became chairman, “we have completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution,” claiming “it was being run down” and “money wasn’t spent properly.”
“With a little fix-up and a little work, we can make it unbelievable,” the president said of the space. “The bones are so good.”
In a post on Truth Social Tuesday, Mr. Trump said work is being done to bring the Kennedy Center “back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.”
The president, who broke with tradition during his first term by skipping the Honors shows after several award recipients criticized him, touted the “GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.”
The president on Wednesday also mentioned another project — a White House renovation — and his effort to “fix up” Washington, D.C., including the deployment of federal law enforcement and the National Guard in the District of Columbia this week to address crime.
“I’m determined to make Washington safe, clean and beautiful again,” he said.
Lisa Cook takes the oath of office to serve as a member of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve System during a ceremony at the William McChesney Martin Jr. Building of the Federal Reserve May 23, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer | Getty Images
A federal judge on Tuesday night blocked President Donald Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook as her lawsuit challenging her termination plays out in court.
Judge Jia Cobb‘s issuance of a preliminary injunction in the case came nearly two weeks after Cook sued Trump to prevent him from becoming the first president in history to remove a Fed governor for purported cause.
Trump said on Aug. 25 that he was firing Cook because of suggestions by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte that she had committed mortgage fraud in connection with documents she signed for two residential properties she owns in Georgia and Michigan. Those documents were signed before she joined the Fed.
Cook, who is the first Black woman to serve on the Fed board, denies any wrongdoing.
“The public interest in Federal Reserve independence weighs in favor of Cook’s reinstatement,” Cobb wrote in an opinion on her decision Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
“At this preliminary stage, the Court finds that Cook has made a strong showing that her purported removal was done in violation of the Federal Reserve Act’s ‘for cause’ provision.”
Cobb said that “the best reading” of that provision is that the bases for removing a Fed governor are limited to actions relating to that governor’s ‘behavior in office.’ “
” ‘For cause’ thus does not contemplate removing an individual purely for conduct that occurred before they began in office,” the judge wrote, referring to the allegations that Trump cited in seeking to fire Cook.
Cobb’s order enjoins Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and the Board of Governors “from effectuating in any manner” Cook’s removal because of Trump’s order.
Cook’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, in a statement, said, “Today’s ruling recognizes and reaffirms the importance of safeguarding the independence of the Federal Reserve from illegal political interference.”
“Allowing the President to unlawfully remove Governor Cook on unsubstantiated and vague allegations would endanger the stability of our financial system and undermine the rule of law,” Lowell said.
“Governor Cook will continue to carry out her sworn duties as a Senate-confirmed Board Governor.”
The White House and the Federal Reserve did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Cobb’s order.
The Supreme Court is expected to have the final say in the case.
Trump has been critical of the Fed, Powell, and governors, including Cook, for not cutting interest rates as the president has demanded.
“I will not resign,” Cook said hours after Trump said he was firing her.
“President Trump purported to fire me ‘for cause’ when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so.”
The Federal Reserve Act says that board governors can be removed by a president only “for cause.”
Lowell, during an Aug. 29 court hearing, scoffed at the idea that Trump had legal cause to terminate her.
“You can’t have Director Pulte’s crazy midnight tweets be the cause,” Lowell told Cobb in U.S. District Court in D.C., during that hearing.
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
For exactly three quarters Monday night, things could not have looked more bleak for the Vikings.
Their young quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, looked overwhelmed. His indecisiveness early had led to a stalled offense, and his third quarter pick-six had put the Vikings in extreme danger of losing control of their opener in Chicago.
Their defense had allowed Bears QB Caleb Williams to complete his first 10 passes, the first Chicago quarterback to start a season with that many completions in almost a half-century.
The whole vibe just seemed off, a far cry from the crispness that embodied much of a 2024 season that ended with 14 victories.
Then Randy Moss showed up. And J.J. McCarthy showed out.
That’s too simple of an explanation, but the stars certainly aligned Monday.
In rewatching the Vikings’ 27-24 victory, this time via the alternate “ManningCast” production featuring Peyton and Eli Manning — and Moss, for one important quarter ― the highs and lows of the night as seen through McCarthy really came into focus.
I talked about that on Tuesday’s Daily Delivery podcast, and I want to dig into some of the biggest takeaways from watching offensive legends watch the Vikings’ young quarterback.
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USMNT rolls to 2-0 win over Japan, breaking streak of top-25 losses under Mauricio Pochettino
USMNT’s Alejandro Zendejas celebrates after scoring during the first half against Japan at Lower.com Field on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
(John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)
After a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday, the U.S. men’s national team hoped to get its mojo back with a win. Tuesday’s game had a win-or-go home feel to it, as the U.S. tries to find its footing and keep the fans on board — and the USMNT was able to deliver, with a 2-0 win over Japan.
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Pregame, midfielder Tyler Adams told the broadcast that the team needed to get a win, and win they did. The victory over Japan, the No. 17 team in the FIFA rankings, breaks a tough streak of losses against top-25 teams.
From kickoff, Tuesday’s game felt like a far cry from the team’s tough start on Saturday, when the U.S. allowed both Korean goals in the first half: The USMNT looked more organized and more controlled on the pitch, even against a controlled Japanese side. The U.S. found its opening in the 30th minute, as Alejandro Zendejas slotted home a beautiful goal to open the scoring.
The team kept up the momentum in the second half as well. Folarin Balogun got another excellent finish in the 64th minute, off a great assist from Christian Pulisic.
By the time the final whistle blew, it was almost a sigh of relief as the U.S. held on for the much-needed 2-0 win.
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Goalkeeper Matt Freese also pitched in significantly for the win, getting six saves and continuing to cement his place as the first-string goalkeeper.
The U.S. was much more aggressive on offense this time, getting 11 shots on target out of 19 in total. Japanese goalkeeper Keisuke Osako, who had a stunning nine saves, was the only person holding the USMNT to only two goals.
This story will be updated.
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