The White House X page posted a photo of President Donald Trump at the Resolute Desk with the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees. (@WhiteHouse via X)
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, told Fox News Digital the new benchmark reflects unprecedented donor enthusiasm.
"The record-breaking $23 million in contributions to the Kennedy Center Honors is a testament to the extraordinary support for our mission and affirms a vibrant future for this beloved American institution," she said.
During Saturday evening’s Oval Office ceremony, a first in Honors history, Trump personally introduced each of the 2025 honorees. "Great honor," he began. "And I'm delighted to welcome to the Oval Office… our truly exceptional 2025 Kennedy Center honorees."
He went on to call the group "perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center honorees ever assembled."
This year’s recipients include George Strait, members of the rock band KISS — Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley (posthumous) — Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and Sylvester Stallone.
Trump singled out each in turn, praising Strait as a "country music legend," Crawford as a "great star of Broadway," Gaynor as "the disco queen," Stallone as "one of the true great movie stars," and KISS as "the incredible rock band."
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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks as honorees (2nd-L-R) musicians Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS, actor Sylvester Stallone, musician Peter Criss of the rock band KISS, actor Michael Crawford and country musician George Strait look on during the medal presentation ceremony for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in the Oval Office of the White House on December 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. The 2025 Kennedy Center honorees are Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)
Crawford is internationally known for originating the title role in "The Phantom of the Opera." Gaynor has achieved global stardom across five decades and is a two-time Grammy winner.
Stallone, an Academy Award–nominated actor, writer and director, has shaped generations of filmgoers through the "Rocky" and "Rambo" franchises.
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Actor Sylvester Stallone looks on during a medal presentation ceremony of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees in the Oval Office of the White House on Saturday. (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)
The Kennedy Center itself, founded in 1971 as the national living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, hosts more than 2,000 performances each year. The Honors began in 1978 and have become a defining fixture of Washington’s cultural calendar.
Trump also highlighted ongoing renovations to the Kennedy Center building, which he said are being carried out "at a level that nobody's ever seen before," noting congressional funding for major upgrades — including improvements to acoustics. "The sound is so fantastic," he said. "If it's built with bad sound, you never get it fixed."
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The 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors will air Dec. 23 on CBS and will stream on Paramount+, with live access for Premium subscribers and next-day streaming for Essential subscribers.
Officials say the weekend’s events, from the FIFA World Cup draw to the Oval Office reception to Sunday’s gala, reflect a new chapter for the institution as it enters its first full year under Trump’s leadership and prepares for the next phase of renovations, programming, and donor expansion.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-trump-led-kennedy-center-nearly-doubles-fundraising-from-biden-era-smashing-record-23m-haul