Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors, Takes Aim at Jimmy Kimmel in Rare Presidential Appearance

Former President Donald Trump made history Sunday night by hosting the annual Kennedy Center Honors, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to personally host the event. The ceremony took place on December 7 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., marking a significant departure from long-standing presidential tradition.

Trump arrived on the red carpet alongside his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, posing for photos and briefly addressing reporters. His daughter Tiffany Trump was also in attendance, accompanied by her husband, Michael Boulos, adding to the high-profile family presence at the event.

Later in the evening, Trump took center stage as the ceremony honored a diverse group of cultural icons, including country music legend George Strait, Broadway star Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, and rock band KISS.

Hours before the ceremony, Trump hosted the honorees at a White House reception on Saturday. During a press conference ahead of the festivities, the president made headlines by taking a pointed swipe at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

“I’ve watched some of the people that host,” Trump said. “Jimmy Kimmel was horrible at some of these people. If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.”

While Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, he did make an onstage appearance in 2012 during Barack Obama’s presidency, delivering a tribute to David Letterman. In that speech, Kimmel praised Letterman as the greatest influence on his career, calling him “the funniest, the smartest, the weirdest, the coolest, and the best one ever.”

Trump’s involvement with the Kennedy Center represents a dramatic shift from his first term, during which he skipped the Honors entirely. Since returning to office in January, Trump has taken a hands-on approach with the institution, installing himself as chairman, removing several board members, and appointing loyalists in their place.

The president has also acknowledged that he played an unusually active role in selecting this year’s honorees, another break from tradition that has drawn both praise and criticism.

The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is scheduled to air on December 23 on CBS, offering viewers a glimpse into one of the most unconventional—and politically charged—editions in the event’s history.