Mallory Wilson | August 13, 2025

(The Washington Times) — President Trump said he has a great list of honorees for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors while teasing a new name for the center.

“GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS. They will be announced Wednesday,” Mr. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

“Tremendous work is being done, and money being spent, on bringing it back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment,” he wrote. “It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!”

The nominees for the Kennedy Center Honors are traditionally announced in the summer ahead of the December ceremony. The awards go to people in the performing arts who have given recognizable contributions.

Mr. Trump did not attend any Kennedy Center Honors throughout his first term as president.

Mr. Trump took aim at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which was named for the former president John F. Kennedy, earlier this year. He criticized the shows the venue hosted, calling them too woke, and fired members of the board and replaced them with his picks.

He made himself chairman of the board in February.

“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an America Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation,” he posted in February. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

The president and first lady Melania Trump attended the premiere of “Les Miserables” at the center in June. It was his first time attending a performance there as president.

House Republicans introduced a bill last month that would rename the center after Mr. Trump and the opera house after the first lady.

The Washington Times has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment.