Trump Jokes That He Would Nominate Himself For A Kennedy Center Award

President Donald Trump made history on Sunday night as the first sitting or former president to host the Kennedy Center Honors, a long-running gala that celebrates significant contributions to the arts and American culture. The event was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and included honorees such as actor Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss, country star George Strait, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, and Broadway legend Michael Crawford.

Trump arrived on the red carpet with First Lady Melania Trump. Both wore traditional black-tie attire. The President made headlines during the event for some of his lighthearted comments, including joking that he might nominate himself for the honor next year. He also suggested, jokingly, that the Kennedy Center might someday be named after him, calling it the “Trump-Kennedy Center” before quickly correcting himself and calling the remark “terribly embarrassing.” The audience reportedly laughed at the joke.

During the show, Trump took a moment to compliment the renovations currently underway at the center. He noted that over $250 million had been raised for improvements and promised that the building would be better than ever. He also said the night would be remembered as “the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center.”

Trump used the stage to both praise the honorees and engage in his usual unscripted humor. He described Stallone as an action movie icon, Gaynor as a voice that “moved the world to dance,” and Crawford as one of Broadway’s brightest talents. He gave the highest praise to the band Kiss, saying they were “one of the greatest bands in the history of rock and roll.” He also paid tribute to original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, who passed away in October. Frehley’s daughter was in attendance.

The president’s speech included jabs at critics and Hollywood figures who have opposed him in the past. He described some in the audience as “miserable, horrible people,” while also calling them “persistent.” The comments drew laughs from the room. He also made a pointed remark about late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, saying he was a “terrible host” and comparing him unfavorably to classic comedians like Johnny Carson and Bob Hope. Kimmel has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, but Trump’s comment appeared to be a broader critique of Kimmel’s style and past political jabs.