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President Trump recently presided over the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, marking the close of his initial year back in the Oval Office. This celebrated event, now available for viewing on cable and streaming platforms, allows audiences to enjoy the ceremony from the comfort of their homes.
The ceremony, held on December 7, showcased Trump bestowing honors on a selection of luminaries he personally chose: renowned actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, legendary country artist George Strait, the iconic “I Will Survive” singer Gloria Gaynor, and the members of the rock band KISS, including Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley.
In a historic shift, this year marked the first occasion a sitting president has acted as host for the Kennedy Center Honors. This role has previously been filled by notable figures such as Walter Cronkite, Stephen Colbert, and Queen Latifah, among others.
Trump assumed the role of chairman of the Kennedy Center board in 2025. When he announced the honorees earlier in the year, he revealed that although he was initially hesitant, he ultimately “agreed to host” the prestigious event.
“It’s been quite some time. I used to host the finales of The Apprentice, and we did quite well with that,” he commented at the announcement. “So I believe we’re going to achieve great success with such outstanding honorees.”
Trump later shared that he was “very involved” in selecting the honorees and “turned down plenty” of candidates due to their politics, claiming some “were too woke.” One candidate who reportedly turned down the award was Tom Cruise.
Now, viewers can watch some of the biggest stars in Hollywood accept the Kennedy Center Honors from President Trump himself.
How to watch tonight’s Kennedy Center Honors:
The Kennedy Center Honors will be available to watch the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Paramount+ offers two subscription plans. The ad-supported Essential plan costs $7.99/month, while the ad-free Premium plan (which comes with Showtime and live CBS) costs $12.99/month. New subscribers can take advantage of a seven-day free trial.
Viewers can also watch on CBS.
The 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will be broadcast from 8:00-10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday evening.
