Trump hosts Kennedy Center Honors in historic first

On Sunday night in Washington DC, Donald Trump made history as the first US president to host the annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Traditionally hosted by celebrities and other notable figures, the glittering event recognises stars for their influence on American culture and the arts.

But since returning to office in January, Mr Trump has made the ceremony — and the centre itself — a touchstone in a broader attack against what he claims is "woke", anti-American culture.

Here's how we got here.

Who were the 2025 honorees?

Actor Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss and disco singer Gloria Gaynor were among this year's honorees, as well as country music star George Strait and Tony Award-winning actor Michael Crawford.

Mr Trump said the honorees were "among the greatest artists and actors, performers, musicians, singers, songwriters ever to walk the face of the Earth".

How was Trump involved in the ceremony?

Mr Trump announced in August that he had agreed to host this year's show.

Asked when he arrived for the ceremony how he had found time to prepare, the US president said he "didn't really prepare very much".

"I have a good memory, so I can remember things, which is very fortunate," he said.

In addition to hosting, Mr Trump said he was deeply involved in choosing the 2025 honorees.

He said he turned some recommendations down because they were "too woke".

How has Trump taken over the Kennedy Center?

The Kennedy Center has a decades-long history of bipartisan support.

But Mr Trump has recently up-ended that, firing its president and installing a new board stacked with Republicans who ultimately made him chair.

The US president has since criticised the centre's appearance and programming, securing more than $US250 million ($376 million) from Congress for renovations of the building.

"We are saving the Kennedy Center," he told reporters as he arrived for the show.

He declined to rule out previous hints it could be renamed the "Trump Kennedy Center", saying this was up to the board he now chairs.

Mr Trump skipped the centre's honours ceremony altogether during his first term, as multiple honorees were openly critical of him.

In 2017, honours recipient and film producer Norman Lear threatened to boycott his own ceremony if Mr Trump attended.

Have previous presidents attended the ceremony?

Before Mr Trump, presidents watched the Kennedy Center Honors alongside the honorees.

Presidents on both sides of politics at times found themselves face-to-face with artists of opposing political views.

Republican Ronald Reagan was there for honoree Arthur Miller, the playwright who championed liberal causes.

Democrat Bill Clinton, who had signed an assault weapons ban into law, marked the honours for Charlton Heston, an actor and gun rights advocate.

What are the honorees' views about Trump?

Stallone is one of Mr Trump's Hollywood "special ambassadors" and has likened the US president to George Washington.

Strait and Gaynor have not said a lot about their politics.

However, Federal Election Commission records show Gaynor has given money to Republican organisations in recent years.

Kiss member Gene Simmons spoke favourably of Mr Trump during the 2016 US presidential race.

But in 2022, he told Spin magazine that Mr Trump was "out for himself" and criticised him for encouraging conspiracy theories and public expressions of racism.

Fellow Kiss member Paul Stanley denounced Mr Trump's effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden, and condemned Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as "terrorists".

Where can I watch the ceremony?

The ceremony will be broadcast on December 23 on CBS and Paramount+.

Mr Trump has predicted this year's screening will have its best ratings ever.

ABC/AP/Reuters