Trump Attacks Jimmy Kimmel While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors

Former president Donald Trump served as an unusually hands-on host for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors telecast.

“Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor are among the luminaries being celebrated at the annual Kennedy Center Honors WASHINGTON --WASHINGTON (AP) —Sylvester Stallone,KissandGloria Gaynorare among the luminaries being celebrated Sunday at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, with Donald Trump hosting the show, the first time a president will command the stage instead of sitting in an Opera House box”

ABC News

By multiple accounts he became the first sitting president to take on hosting duties for the ceremony, mixing live stage appearances with pre-taped Oval Office segments.

ABC News

Coverage noted that he walked the red carpet with Melania, introduced the five honorees in videos filmed at the White House, and even performed onstage during the show.

Outlets also recorded Trump’s booming self-promotion about the event, including claims that he had been heavily involved in selecting the class and predictions of record ratings for the broadcast.

Trump used his hosting platform to attack late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, renewing a long-running feud.

He mocked Kimmel’s talent and suggested the comedian had influence over his presidency.

AP News

Multiple outlets recorded Trump’s quips, including lines implying he shouldn’t be president if he couldn’t outshine Kimmel.

Contemporaneous reporting recalled earlier exchanges in which Trump publicly urged ABC to fire Kimmel and accused him of political bias.

Coverage highlighted how Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center's governance loomed over the ceremony, reporting that he replaced leadership, packed the board with allies, made himself board chair, and pushed through renovation funding.

“Topic:Popular Culture Donald Trump hosted this year's Kennedy Center Honors”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Reporters also documented partisan ripples — fewer Democrats in attendance, mixed reactions among honorees, and staff turnover tied to the new management — all of which framed the evening as both a cultural gala and an institutional flashpoint.

Reporters detailed the night’s programming and production changes and noted the 2025 class included Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait and Michael Crawford.

The ceremony featured tributes and performances from a range of artists.

CBC

Trump introduced honorees with Oval Office segments, and the ceremony used redesigned medallions.

Coverage differed in focus: some pieces cataloged performers and TV moments, while others emphasized the political context or questioned the broadcast’s production choices and future network rights.

Coverage diverged on the political fallout and media-policy flashpoints tied to the event.

“Updated on: December 8, 2025 / 12:52 AM EST/ CBS/AP President Trump on Sunday hosted the Kennedy Center Honors after presenting the2025 Kennedy Center honoreeswith their medals during a ceremony in the Oval Office on Saturday, hailing the slate of artists as "legendary in so many ways”

CBS News

Tabloid and entertainment outlets emphasized the renewed Trump–Kimmel feud and one-line barbs.

CBS News

Political and mainstream outlets focused on governance questions, staff turnover, congressional funding, and concerns about possible abuses of power.

They also highlighted a public threat from the FCC chair toward ABC and Disney after a late-night monologue.