Tom Cruise (IMDB), John F. Kennedy (larousse.fr), and Donald Trump (bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov)- Tom Cruise declined Donald Trump’s invitation to receive a 2025 Kennedy Center Honor, citing “scheduling conflicts.”
- Trump claimed 98% control over this year’s honoree selection, rejecting nominees he deemed “too woke.”
- Honorees include Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and George Strait.
- The December 7 ceremony will be hosted by Trump himself, a first in the history of the Kennedy Center Honors.
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has reportedly turned down an invitation from President Donald Trump to receive a Kennedy Center Honor this year, citing “scheduling conflicts,” according to multiple current and former Kennedy Center employees. Neither Cruise nor the Center issued an official statement.
Trump’s Remarks and Bold Rebranding of the Honors
President Trump, who assumed chairmanship of the Kennedy Center earlier in 2025, said he was “about 98 percent involved” in selecting this year’s honorees. During the unveiling of the list, he joked, “I waited and waited… I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor,” drawing laughter from attendees. Trump emphasized that he had rejected nominees he found “too woke” and signaled a broader cultural shift, stating he aimed to make the Center “the jewel of the crown of American art and culture again.”
Who’s Being Honored — and Who’s Not
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors will recognize a star-studded lineup of American entertainment icons. Among them is Sylvester Stallone, the legendary actor known worldwide for the Rocky and Rambo franchises; KISS, the iconic rock band celebrated for their flamboyant stage performances and decades of hits; Gloria Gaynor, the Grammy-winning disco queen best known for the anthem “I Will Survive”; Michael Crawford, the acclaimed British stage actor and original star of The Phantom of the Opera; and George Strait, hailed as the “King of Country” with more No. 1 hits than any other recording artist in history.
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But one name missing from the list is making just as many headlines as those included: Tom Cruise. According to reports, Cruise was invited to receive the honor but turned it down. The refusal has been widely interpreted as a quiet rebuff of Trump, especially given their history of limited interaction.
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Trump Lays Claim to the Selection Process
At the official announcement of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees, Donald Trump made it clear that this year’s lineup reflected his direct influence. Breaking with past tradition—where the president usually played little to no role—Trump openly stated that he oversaw nearly every decision.
“I would say I was about 98 percent involved. They all went through me,” Trump told reporters. “I had a couple of wokesters. Now, we have great people. This is very different than it used to be, very different.”
His comments suggest that he personally rejected nominees he viewed as politically progressive, or “woke,” and approved only those who matched his vision of what the honors should represent. By emphasizing that the process is “very different than it used to be,” Trump signaled a deliberate shift in the cultural and political tone of the Kennedy Center Honors under his stewardship.
Scheduling or Something More?
While Cruise’s official reason remains “scheduling conflicts,” public speculation suggests the refusal may reflect his apolitical persona amid a now explicitly politicized ceremony. Cruise has traditionally avoided political commentary. Cruise dodged a question about Trump-era tariffs – responding instead, “We’d rather answer questions about the movie.” at a press conference for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in Seoul in May.
Given Cruise’s status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, his absence marks a major blow to the ceremony’s star power.
Artists Respond: Criticism and Support Emerge
The overhaul at the Kennedy Center has prompted strong reactions. Ana Navarro, the co-host of the daytime talk show ‘The View‘ publicly urged Gloria Gaynor to decline the honor, citing Trump’s history of attacks on marginalized groups.
Conversely, not all of this year’s honorees align closely with Trump’s politics. Sylvester Stallone, long a friend and outspoken supporter of the former president, has been described as one of Trump’s informal “Hollywood ambassadors” in conservative circles. But within the rock band KISS, opinions have been more divided.
Gene Simmons, the band’s co-founder and bassist, has criticized Trump in the past for what he sees as a destructive approach to leadership. In a 2018 NPR interview, Simmons warned that Trump was “fostering division and letting the cockroaches rise to the top,” a metaphor suggesting that toxic elements in society were being emboldened by the political climate. At the same time, Simmons has often stressed that he still respects the office of the presidency, even if he disagrees with Trump personally.
On the other hand, his bandmate Paul Stanley has taken a more conciliatory stance. Stanley has argued that, regardless of politics, artists and citizens should remain open to dialogue with people across the political spectrum, including those who support Trump.
Trump Breaks Tradition as Host
This year’s ceremony, scheduled for December 7, 2025, will be unprecedented in another way: it will be hosted by Donald Trump himself—marking the first time in the award’s history that a sitting or former U.S. president has taken on the role of host.
Historically, the Kennedy Center Honors sought to remain apolitical, with presidents typically attending only as ceremonial guests—and sometimes skipping altogether. But under Trump, the event has taken a sharp turn. He has replaced the board, dismissed longtime leadership, and floated proposals to rename both the Kennedy Center and its opera house.
Critics argue these moves amount to a political rebranding of one of America’s most prestigious cultural institutions, while supporters say they represent a long-overdue refresh that aligns the Honors with broader public values.
As the December gala approaches, the spotlight is likely to remain as much on Trump’s rebranding of the institution as on the artists being honored.
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