Disco legend Gloria Gaynor was among the honorees lauded by President Donald Trump at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. The president’s choice of Gaynor and her acceptance of the honor have angered fans who urged her to reject the recognition from Trump, and Gaynor’s political views have come under scrutiny as a result of the honor. The discussion around Gaynor adds to the controversy surrounding the awards, which come after Trump assumed personal control of the organization.
Gaynor under scrutiny as Trump honors her and other 1970s and ’80s stars
Gaynor, the disco star best known for her hit song “I Will Survive,” was one of the celebrities honored at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.
“Nobody did it like Gloria Gaynor,” Trump said before presenting the medal to Gaynor during the ceremony. “That’s a good head of hair. That’s beautiful,” Trump added as he placed the medal on her.
She was one of several honorees Trump personally vetted and said early this year that he had ensured that no “woke” artists were honored. Other honorees for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors included Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone and country artist George Strait, as well as the rock band Kiss, all celebrities who gained fame in the 1970s or 1980s.
When the list of honorees was announced earlier this year, fans of Gaynor, many of whom are members of the Black or LGBTQ+ communities, urged her to reject the honor. As she mainly remained quiet about the recognition, online commentators noted that she appears to have a history of donating to right-wing politicians and organizations in recent years, and her participation in this year’s Trump-led Kennedy Center Honors has further supported the conclusion that she is a MAGA supporter.
Trump’s controversial takeover of Kennedy Center
Trump has had a rocky relationship with the Kennedy Center Honors, an event that presidents generally attend as audience members. Trump missed the ceremonies during his first term after several celebrities skipped a White House reception held before the 2017 ceremony. Since returning to office this year, the president has replaced many Kennedy Center board members with Trump loyalists who, in turn, voted him chair of the organization. The politicization of the Kennedy Center and Trump’s heavy-handed approach to running the organization prompted several notable figures, such as Shonda Rhimes, to distance themselves from the organization.
While dozens of staff members have resigned and ticket sales have dropped since Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, the president has gotten Congress to approve a $257 million package to renovate the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Trump has joked about renaming the center after himself. Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island announced earlier this year that he had launched an investigation of the center for “millions in lost revenue, luxury spending, and preferential treatment for Trump allies.” On Sunday, Trump boasted about his renovations of the center as he broke with tradition to host this year’s honors. The president dominated the ceremony, giving remarks at the beginning and end, as well as after intermission; he also contributed recorded messages for each of the honorees. He used the occasion to discuss his political successes and even brag about his golf game.
For the most part, Sunday’s honorees, including Gaynor, steered clear of politics in their remarks as Trump honored them. But for many, their mere participation in the ceremony was an endorsement of Trump amid his right-wing policies and his politicization of the yearly Kennedy Center event. For many of Gaynor’s fans in particular, her support for Trump and other right-wing politicians seems like a betrayal of the people who have supported her over the years.