Donald Trump has never been shy about sharing his taste, and this week he made it official with a splashy reveal of his handpicked “brightest stars” for the Kennedy Center.
On Wednesday in Washington, the former president returned to the venue to announce the 2025 honorees, shaping the arts institution in his own image and keeping a promise he made earlier this year – to spotlight talent “from all across our Nation” on one of the country’s most prestigious stages.
For Trump, the arts have always been personal. Whether it’s campaign rally playlists or Broadway memories, he’s drawn to the big, the bold, and the nostalgic. This latest round of honorees includes George Strait, the country music legend whose career has rewritten record books. Trump also heaped praise on Michael Crawford, calling him “one of the greatest talents I’ve ever actually seen,” with a special nod to his role in The Phantom of the Opera.
Then came the action movie pick – Sylvester Stallone, whom Trump described as “a friend of mine” and “a very unique man.” Stallone, he said, was “very honored to be honored.” On the music side, disco icon Gloria Gaynor made the cut, with Trump calling “I Will Survive” an “unbelievable song” that somehow gets “better every time you hear it.” The song even has a Trump family connection – Ivana Trump once revealed in her memoir Raising Trump that she listened to it in court during their divorce trial.
Rounding out the list was KISS, the makeup-heavy rock band known for its over-the-top shows. The choices reflect Trump’s long-running affinity for flashy stagecraft and feel-good hits, a taste that’s been on display since his 2020 campaign rallies, which featured everyone from Elton John and the Village People to Bachman-Turner Overdrive and the Rolling Stones – even when some of those artists objected.
One song Trump has never hidden his love for is “Macho Man” by the Village People. He’s also been known to turn to Broadway, with a special fondness for Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals. In fact, during a meeting with Kennedy Center trustees earlier this year, he promised to bring Webber’s shows back to D.C. He spoke with enthusiasm about Cats, recalling Betty Buckley’s famous performance of “Memory” in vivid detail. Buckley has said she based her portrayal on real homeless women she observed, aiming to capture their dignity rather than pity.
That led Trump to address homelessness in D.C., tying it into his broader push to “make Washington beautiful.” With the city’s police department, National Guard, and federal officers under his direction, he pledged to remove tents and people living in parks. “They’re saying ‘he’s a dictator,’” Trump said. “Instead of saying ‘he’s a dictator,’ they should say ‘We’re going to join him.’”
The former president also signaled that his approach wouldn’t stop at the capital. Cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are next in line for what he calls transformation. “Our whole country is going to be so different,” he promised. While he insisted he didn’t want to call a national emergency, he made it clear he would if needed.
From tank-filled D.C. parades to curated playlists and now his own star-studded Kennedy Center lineup, Trump is leaving his mark on American culture – in his own highly selective, unmistakably Trump style. Whether the picks are about personal nostalgia, national pride, or a bit of both, one thing’s certain: these are the stars he wants America to see.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
