On Saturday, President Donald Trump and the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees met in the Oval Office to be presented with their medallions. As RedState reported in August, actor/writer/producer Sylvester Stallone, R&B artist Gloria Gaynor, country music icon George Strait, '70s-era rock band KISS, and British actor-singer Michael Crawford were this year's recipients and the first to receive medallions with the new design crafted and donated by Tiffany & Co.
President Donald J. Trump presents medallions to the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/06IRlZUvpV
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 7, 2025
Read More: Trump Announces Hard Rockers, a Punching Actor and a Country Music Legend As Kennedy Center Honorees
The Kennedy Center website detailed the particulars of the design.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the Kennedy Center Honors’ medallions have been re-imagined and donated by Tiffany & Co. As the first American high jewelry house, Tiffany and Co. has played a defining role in American luxury culture for nearly two centuries – making them the ideal collaborator to design the Honors medallion. The brand-new medallion features a gold disc etched on one side with a depiction of the Kenndy Center. The building is flanked by rainbow colors representing the breadth of the arts celebrated when receiving the Honor. The reverse side bears the Honorees’ names in script above the date of the Medallion Ceremony, December 6, 2025. The medallion hangs from a navy-blue ribbon, a color associated with dignity and tradition.
Tonight, @POTUS will present medallions to this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients — with a new, far more classy design, created and donated by Tiffany & Co. (left)
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 6, 2025
A MASSIVE upgrade from the tacky rainbow sash design of medallions past (right). pic.twitter.com/LcCF2DEJLu
President Trump acknowledged Tiffany & Co.'s contribution and thanked them as "longtime friends."
WATCH:
.@POTUS: "In a few moments we will be presenting these stars with their Kennedy Center Honors medallions, which were redesigned this year with the help of the fantastic team at Tiffany and Company, and I want to congratulate them. They have done a fantastic job." https://t.co/HoTgnumAed pic.twitter.com/x5hpPybeJn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 6, 2025
With each honoree presentation, President Trump offered up a personal anecdote. He teased country star George Strait about whether the medal could fit over his classic cowboy hat. Strait opted to remove his hat to receive the award, and Trump jokingly noted that he still had most of his hair. The daughter of the late KISS bandmember Ace Frehley appeared with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss to receive the medallion in his honor.
WATCH:
.@POTUS presents medallions to the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients: George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, and Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley (accepted by his daughter). pic.twitter.com/T7Z8A1R36M
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 6, 2025
President Donald Trump on Saturday presented the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with their medals during a ceremony in the Oval Office, hailing the slate of artists he was deeply involved in choosing as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” ever assembled.
This year’s recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford.
Trump said they are a group of “incredible people” who represent the “very best in American arts and culture” and that, “I know most of them and I’ve been a fan of all of them.”
“This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted and unified millions and millions of Americans,” said a tuxedo-clad Trump. “This is perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.”
Trump also discussed his role as the host of the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors program, which will air on CBS and stream via Paramount+ on December 23. Trump acknowledged that he would be the first president to host the program, and took the opportunity to dig at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
WATCH:
.@POTUS on hosting tomorrow's 48th Kennedy Center Honors: "We've never had a President hosting the awards before. This is a first. I'm sure they'll give me great reviews... If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don't think I should be President." 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Gsfrmc3py1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 6, 2025
According to a Fox News exclusive, the Kennedy Center has doubled its fundraising since Trump's unprecedented takeover as chairman of the non-profit, almost doubling the contributions raised during the Biden administration. Kennedy Center vice president of public relations Roma Daravi said this haul reflects "unprecedented donor enthusiasm." Ric Grenell, Ambassador to Germany and DNI from Trump's first term, took the reins as president and praised the transformation the center has undergone under Trump's second term.
The Kennedy Center Honors has raised a record $23 million for its 48th annual celebration, nearly doubling the $12.7 million raised last year under President Biden, as President Donald Trump begins his tenure as chairman of the Kennedy Center, Fox News Digital has learned.
According to the Kennedy Center, the $23 million total marks the largest fundraising haul in the 48-year history of the Honors, which was launched in 1978 as the institution’s highest recognition of lifetime artistic achievement.
While Kennedy Center Honorees have visited the Oval Office privately in past years, Trump on Saturday hosted the first official, on-camera ceremony recognizing the recipients inside the Oval Office, introducing each honoree ahead of Sunday night’s gala.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell told Fox News Digital that the center "nearly doubled last year’s fundraising, reaching a historic $23 million dollars," calling the Honors "one of our nation’s highest celebrations of the performing arts."
Despite these gains, Democrats and the left continue to melt down over Trump's undue influence in this so-called bipartisan organization, claiming Trump’s Kennedy Center is "showier, emptier and more political." As with all things concerning this administration, Trump remains unfazed and forward-thinking. His aim: "Make Kennedy Center Great Again."
WATCH:
Trump Vows to Make Kennedy Center Great Again: It’s Been Mistreated – Just Like the White House Was!
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) December 6, 2025
"[Kennedy Center's] been tired. It's been mistreated. A little bit like the White House has been mistreated to be honest with you. We're bringing it back to a level that I don't… https://t.co/zy3rPltSXq pic.twitter.com/e07F8RdPUh
Trump Vows to Make Kennedy Center Great Again: It’s Been Mistreated – Just Like the White House Was!
"[Kennedy Center's] been tired. It's been mistreated. A little bit like the White House has been mistreated to be honest with you. We're bringing it back to a level that I don't think any place in the country will see."
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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