Donald Trump has floated the extraordinary idea of leaving the presidency to pursue a career as a professional awards show host. The suggestion came via his Truth Social platform ahead of his debut hosting the Kennedy Center Honors on Tuesday 23 December 2025.
A Full-Time Hosting Gig?
In his post, the president said the evening would celebrate the "true GREATS" of American culture. He then posed a direct question to his followers: "If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make 'hosting' a full time job?" This quip underscores his focus on the high-profile cultural event, even as his administration's dramatic changes to the Kennedy Center itself face intense scrutiny and declining public interest.
The president's involvement with the centre has been transformative. Earlier this year, he orchestrated a takeover of its board, which subsequently elected him as its new chair. His most audacious move, announced just last week, is a plan to rename the Washington D.C. institution the "Trump-Kennedy Center." This proposal has been met with immediate opposition from Democrats, who have questioned his legal authority to enact such a change.
Controversy and Boycotts
The renaming controversy has largely overshadowed the honours ceremony, which this year is set to recognise celebrities perceived as politically aligned with Trump, including Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, and the rock band KISS. However, the centre's status has shifted dramatically under its new leadership.
Since Trump's board takeover, programming has shifted away from acts unwilling to be associated with the new direction. High-profile casualties include the musical Hamilton and a sold-out show planned by actor Issa Rae. The new board also proactively cancelled a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.
Leading the centre's new era is Richard Grenell, Trump's loyalist and former ambassador to Germany, who now serves as interim president. Grenell has taken a hard line against artists boycotting the venue, stating earlier this year that "vapid and intolerant artists" would be named to ensure producers and the public know which performances impose political litmus tests.
Audiences Vote With Their Feet
The cultural and political battles are having a tangible financial impact. According to a Washington Post analysis from October, ticket sales have plummeted to their lowest levels since the Covid-19 pandemic. The report found that individual shows between September and the end of October experienced a staggering 36 percent drop in ticket sales or filled seats.
This exodus extends a trend that began when Trump first targeted the centre's programming. In February, he claimed on Truth Social that "The Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP." This echoed conservative prejudices about the LGBT+ community and targeted events like a non-sexual "drag story hour" held under the Biden administration in February 2024.
The combination of artistic boycotts, programming changes, and the polarising renaming plan has transformed the Kennedy Center, in the eyes of many former supporters, into an occupied entity. As Trump jokes about a future in television hosting, the institution he now chairs faces a profound crisis of identity and attendance.
