In-town pool report #5 — Honorees + color
- From
- John Bennett
- Sent
- Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 11:53 AM
POTUS spoke on the center’s red carpet from the blue presidential lectern. Pictures of honorees were behind him beneath red cloths, which were removed as he announced their names.
Kennedy Center Honors recipients:
Country music star George Strait. “They call him the king of country. … Good looking guy. I hope he still looks that way,” Trump said.
Theatre star Michael Crawford. “Nobody did it like him,” Trump said.
Actor Sylvester Stallone: “Rocky, Rambo, Creed and others. You do one, it’s good. You do two…” POTUS told a story about how Stallone got the part for “Rocky,” saying actors brought in to try out didn’t have a boxer’s body build.
Grammy winner Gloria Gaynor. He noted her hits, including “I will survive,” which Trump called an “unbelievable song” that he’s heard many times. It gets better each time he hears it, POTUs said.
Rock band KISS. “It’s an honor to present KISS,” he said, teasing the band might perform before the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS.
POTUS still speaking. He said with “a little work,” he would make the Center “magnificent,” and said the building has “good bones.”
Trump congratulated Graham on his poll numbers in his South Carolina reelection campaign. Graham smiled and shook his head.
At the top: “Next year, we’ll honor Trump,” POTUS quipped.
AG Bondi, Sen. Graham, WH press secretary Leavitt were among those seated in the front row to Trump’s left.
Event is ongoing and being carried live.
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John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent & Editor-at-Large
Roll Call & CQ | FiscalNote publications