President Donald Trump faced an unexpected rejection when actor Tom Cruise declined an invitation to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, citing scheduling conflicts as the reason for turning down one of the nation’s most prestigious arts awards.
Multiple Kennedy Center employees confirmed to The Washington Post that the “Mission: Impossible” star was offered the lifetime achievement award but declined the opportunity. The rejection came as Trump announced his personally selected list of 2025 Kennedy Center honorees on August 13, which includes rock band KISS, actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, country music legend George Strait, and British theater actor Michael Crawford.
Trump, who became chairman of the Kennedy Center board in February after purging 18 Democratic members and replacing them with allies, indicated he was heavily involved in the selection process. During his announcement, he stated that he was “about 98 percent involved” in choosing the recipients and acknowledged rejecting some potential honorees for being “too woke.”
The President’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has sparked significant controversy and resignations. Ben Folds stepped down from his position as artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra, while Renée Fleming left her role as artistic adviser at large. Shonda Rhimes also resigned from her position as treasurer on February 12, the same day Trump was elected chairman by the new board.
Trump fired former Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter and replaced former board chairman David Rubenstein as part of his overhaul of the institution. The President has stated his intention to eliminate “woke” content from the Kennedy Center and restore what he views as its former glory.
The announcement of KISS as honorees surprised many, given the band’s previous harsh criticism of Trump. Founding member Paul Stanley had previously called Trump’s claims about election rigging “incendiary and abhorrent,” while bassist Gene Simmons criticized Trump in 2022, saying he “got all the cockroaches to rise to the top.”
Despite their past statements, KISS members expressed gratitude for the recognition. Stanley told TMZ that “the prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated.” Simmons indicated the group was deeply honored to receive the award, while drummer Peter Criss called it the greatest honor of their career.
The Kennedy Center honors ceremony will take place December 7 and will be hosted by Trump himself, marking a departure from traditional hosting arrangements. Trump joked during his announcement that he had always wanted a Kennedy Center award but was never able to get one, adding that he might honor himself next year.
Critics have emerged regarding some of the honorees. “The View” co-host Ana Navarro posted on Instagram urging Gloria Gaynor to reject the honor, arguing that Trump has attacked the rights of women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals.
The changes extend beyond personnel and honorees. The Washington-area family that has handmade the Kennedy Center’s signature rainbow-and-gold medallions for nearly five decades has been dropped. James and Mila Baturin, who have created the medals since the first ceremony in 1978, learned in early August that the Kennedy Center would no longer work with them as the institution reportedly contacts Tiffany & Co. about designing new medals.
Kennedy Center Honors executive producer Matthew Winer announced his resignation this week, with staff reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s direct involvement in the selection process. Trump indicated that some proposed nominees were rejected, stating he “turned down plenty” who were “too woke.”
House Republicans have proposed legislation to rename the Kennedy Center the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center Opera House as the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House. However, President John F. Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg has claimed this would violate federal law.
Trump’s involvement with the Kennedy Center represents a broader pattern of institutional changes during his second term. The White House is reportedly planning a comprehensive review of the Smithsonian Institution to ensure exhibits and operations align with the President’s interpretation of history ahead of upcoming celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
