Tom Cruise Declines a Kennedy Center Honor From President Donald Trump
Courtesy of Cindy Ord/Getty Images.
The Hollywood action superstar Tom Cruise has reportedly turned down an offer from the president to be part of the 2025 class of Kennedy Center honorees.
According to The Washington Post, the actor declined the invitation, citing “scheduling conflicts.”
Instead, Trump on Wednesday revealed the 48th Kennedy Center Honors lineup, which features glam-metal legends Kiss, Broadway veteran Michael Crawford, country icon George Strait, disco queen Gloria Gaynor, and—representing the film world—Sylvester Stallone. Stallone also happens to be one of Trump’s recently named “special ambassadors” to Hollywood, alongside Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, a title announced at the start of Trump’s second term.
Trump also confirmed he will personally host this year’s ceremony, joking that he had always wanted a Kennedy Center award but could never get one.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Kennedy Center, Trump has backed a push by House Republicans to rename its opera house in honor of First Lady Melania Trump. It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach a full congressional vote or pass into law.
This hosting announcement comes shortly after Trump appointed himself chairman of a newly formed special task force to oversee preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 7 and will be broadcast on CBS. Both the Kennedy Center, CBS, and representatives for Cruise declined to comment.
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