U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (December 7) hosted the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards show, which recognises achievements in music and film.

The event marked Trump's increased involvement with Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he opened with jokes about his predecessor, Joe Biden.

This year's Kennedy Center Honors, widely seen as the top U.S. recognition for lifetime achievement in the performing arts, feted actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, country musician George Strait, "Phantom of the Opera" star Michael Crawford and rock band KISS.

Trump, who played a role in selecting the honourees, did not attend Kennedy Center events during his first term but has shown greater interest during his second, including appointing a new board and initiating renovations.

The Honors show will air on CBS on December 23.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 7, 2025) (THE KENNEDY CENTER/CBS - Broadcast: For editorial use only / No archive / No resales / No use U.S. network affiliate broadcasters (U.S. local television broadcast stations) / No use after December 31, 2025 / Music not cleared for use / Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings / No more than two minutes use / Must on-screen courtesy “Courtesy of The Kennedy Center/CBS” / Courtesy must remain on-screen throughout use of any clips / Must not obstruct CBS “Eye” logo.

Digital: For editorial use only/ No archive / No resales / No new use after December 31, 2025 / Music not cleared for use / Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings / No than two minutes use / Must on-screen courtesy “Courtesy of The Kennedy Center/CBS” / Courtesy must remain on-screen throughout use of any clips / Must not obstruct CBS “Eye” logo.)

1. VARIOUS OF U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, WALKING TO ROSTRUM

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"This is the greatest evening in the history of the Kennedy Center. Not even a contest."

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"And I'll tell you what, the Trump Kennedy Center, I mean, the Kennedy Center, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

4. (L TO R) ACTORS MICHAEL CRAWFORD AND SYLVESTER STALLONE SITTING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"You know, they tried getting (former U.S. President Joe) Biden to do this four years in a row. They tried getting him. He said 'Ah I don't think so.' It would have been very interesting, though, wouldn't it? I would have watched."

6. SINGERS (L TO R) GLORIA GAYNOR AND GEORGE STRAIT SITTING

7. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE OF "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" SONG

8. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE OF GEORGE STRAIT'S SONG "RUN"

9. STRAIT LISTENING

10. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE OF GLORIA GAYNOR'S SONG "TALKIN' 'BOUT JESUS"

11. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE OF KISS' SONG "NEED TO BE REMINDED"

12. KISS BAND MEMBERS (L TO R) PETER CRISS, GENE SIMMONS AND PAUL STANLEY SITTING AND CLAPPING NEXT TO TRUMP AND U.S. FIRST LADY, MELANIA TRUMP

13. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE OF KISS' SONG "ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE"

14. CRISS, SIMMONS AND STANLEY STANDING AND CLAPPING