US President Donald Trump appeared Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center in Washington as host. The cultural venue, which the Republican has brought under his control, held a gala that honored Gloria Gaynor, the disco queen beloved in the queer community, for her lifetime artistic achievements. Also receiving Kennedy Center Honors were Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, country musician George Strait, and British actor Michael Crawford, known for his acting. Trump had already presented them with the medals at the White House on Saturday.
Direct link
|
Gaynor’s award surprised many, as she is seen as an icon of the queer community that the Trump administration has long opposed (TheColu.mn reported). “I Will Survive” became, during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, something of a motivational anthem. Nevertheless, the 81-year-old frequently speaks about her Christian evangelical faith, which resonates with Trump’s voter base. In 2020 she also performed at a benefit concert for the anti-LGBT evangelical activist Kirk Cameron (TheColu.mn reported). She has never spoken negatively about sexual and gender minorities, instead saying that she wants to bring her queer fan base closer to Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, Trump’s social-media team had just before the ceremony on X stressed that the rainbow would play a smaller role in the awards. For example, the jeweler Tiffany, whose flagship store sits right beside the New York Trump Tower, designed a more classic look. This was a “massive improvement over the tacky rainbow-sash design” of previous years. The cloak is now dark blue instead of multi-colored. However, the rainbow colors remain visible on the medal itself. According to the Kennedy Center, the colors symbolize the broad spectrum of the arts that are being honored with the award.
As an example of the old design, the Trump team showcased in its social-media post the 2021 honoree singer Bette Midler. The 80-year-old performer, who began her career in a gay bathhouse, is known as a sharp Trump critic. The U.S. president had referred to her as a “crazy woman,” an “unhinged psychopath,” and a “sick con artist,” and ridiculed her appearance.
Unlike in the past, the Kennedy Center Honors recipients were not chosen by a bipartisan professional jury, but apparently based on the president’s political and personal considerations. Trump said he was involved in “about 98 percent” of the selection. He also stressed that he ignored many suggestions, because: “They were too woke.”
The awards apparently also functioned as a thank-you from Trump for political support: Sylvester Stallone and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons are regarded as supporters of the MAGA movement. Crawford received his award likely because he appeared in Trump’s favorite musical, “Phantom of the Opera.” George Strait is widely considered apolitical, but his songs traditionally convey conservative values such as patriotism, respect for police and the military, and romanticized depictions of rural life.
During Sunday night’s Kennedy Center Gala, Trump also took on the hosting duties. While presidents attending the gala is common—their usual role is simply to sit in the box as spectators rather than host onstage—in the past the hosting role has been filled by figures such as rapper Queen Latifah or late-night host Stephen Colbert.
Trump reportedly stepped onto the stage to open the show as moderator. Following that, he first took a seat in a presidential box, according to the New York Times, but later returned to the stage to continue moderating.
Trump had said the day before the show that he would host at the request of a particular television network. The gala was not broadcast live, but will be aired on December 23 on CBS, according to multiple U.S. media outlets.
Under the Kennedy Center, named after former President John F. Kennedy, Trump has enacted major changes: he fired several members of the board, took over as chair, and appointed former U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as president of the institution. The openly gay Grenell was once a controversial U.S. ambassador in Germany and is seen as a steadfast Trump ally. At the Kennedy Center, he aims to enforce a drag ban (TheColu.mn reported). In explaining his move, he argued that the institution had become too “woke.”
Trump’s takeover of the institution, which receives some state funding, is viewed by critics as part of a culture war in which conservatives seek to dismantle what they view as a too-liberal ideology.
In his first term, Trump reportedly did not participate in Kennedy Center Honors celebrations. In 2017, he canceled his participation after several honorees announced boycotts. (dk)
