President Trump on Saturday celebrated a star-studded lineup of the nation’s most “acclaimed and renowned” performers as he gave out newly-minted medals to this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees in the Oval Office.
Dressed in a tuxedo, he awarded gold medallions to Academy Award-nominated “Rocky” actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, members of the rock band KISS, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, British actor Michael Crawford, and country music legend George Strait.
“This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted and unified millions and millions of Americans,” Trump boasted.
“This is perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.”
At the ceremony, the president draped a custom Tiffany & Co. medal around each honoree’s neck. Unlike the traditional rainbow ribbon with gold plates, the medal hung from a blue ribbon, featuring the recipient’s name on one side and the Kennedy Center with rainbow colors on the other.
The luxury jeweler also donated the prestigious medallions for the event.
Outside the Oval Office, the Rose Garden echoed with hits like Gaynor’s 1978 anthem “I Will Survive” and KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” along with other hits from the performers.
The president also highlighted the ongoing renovations at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC.
“We are making something really special,” he said.
“It’s been mistreated, a little bit like the White House has been mistreated to be honest with you, and we are bringing it back to a level that I don’t think any place in the country will see.”
Trump, the chairman of the Kennedy Center, will host the 48th annual awards show on Sunday, and be joined by First Lady Melania.
He avoided the honors during his first term after artists said they would not attend out of protest.
The 79-year-old previously said in August that he was “heavily involved” in the selection process, personally filtering out some potential honorees – a role that had traditionally been handled by a bipartisan committee.
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be held Sunday evening and broadcast later this month on CBS and Paramount+.
With Post wires.
