By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, awarding Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. During the event, Trump remarked on the persistence of the honorees, while also taking jabs at some audience members. Trump, who appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, has revamped the organization, replacing board members and expressing a desire to align it with his vision, going so far as to announce over $100 million raised in a month. This year’s honorees were selected by Trump, and a bill was proposed to rename the Kennedy Center after him and the Opera House after Melania Trump, which has sparked some controversy.
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Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. It’s almost unbelievable, isn’t it? The image of Donald Trump, addressing a crowd at the Kennedy Center Honors, and casually labeling a portion of them as “miserable, horrible people.” The sheer audacity is something to behold, especially considering the context: a celebration of artistic achievement, a night meant to honor and uplift. You’d think, in such a setting, a former president might choose a different tone, maybe something a little more, well, celebratory.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. The event itself, the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, was a significant occasion, as it was the first time he hosted the annual event, having skipped it during his initial term. The list of honorees included notable figures like Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. The talent being celebrated was undeniable, a testament to decades of dedication and artistry. Yet, amidst the tributes and accolades, came the now-familiar and predictable Trumpian rhetoric.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. The comments themselves were delivered with a characteristic mix of self-aggrandizement and pointed criticism. He started by acknowledging the persistence of the artists, a quality he then extended – somewhat ironically, it must be said – to the audience. He declared that he knew many of the people present and that they were persistent. The pivot to describing a significant portion of the crowd as “miserable, horrible people” was a stark contrast, a jarring insertion of negativity into a supposed celebration. The juxtaposition was deliberate, a clear signal of his intention.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. The irony, as many have pointed out, is thick. Here we have a man, widely recognized for his own history of inflammatory remarks, his penchant for personal attacks, and his apparent inability to extend basic civility, calling others “miserable, horrible people.” It’s the epitome of projection, of criticizing in others the very traits he embodies. It is a constant game of the pot calling the kettle black.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. Consider the situation from the perspective of an attendee. You’ve come to celebrate the achievements of some of the most iconic figures in the arts. You’re likely dressed up, perhaps having spent significant money on the tickets. You are, arguably, part of the cultural elite. And then, the host, the former president, singles out a segment of the audience for this insult. It is insulting.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. The response to Trump’s actions often centers on a feeling that is very natural. A response of disbelief, mixed with a healthy dose of contempt. Many of the comments echo a similar sentiment, that his words are a reflection of his own personality. The constant victimhood, the inability to accept blame, and the overall negative outlook. It is like the saying, “every accusation is an admission.”
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. Moreover, his comments raise the question of why he felt the need to make such a remark at all. Was it simply an attempt to provoke, to stir up controversy? Or was it a genuine expression of his disdain for a certain group of people? The answer, as is often the case with Trump, likely lies somewhere in between. It is probable he was attempting to engage the audience in a way that he thought would be entertaining, while still staying within the confines of his own personal comfort zone.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. Some of the most critical comments reflect a deep-seated frustration with Trump’s behavior. They express a sense of shame, of disbelief that such a figure could hold the highest office in the land. The very fact that this man was once president is itself a source of confusion, of a feeling that something has gone terribly wrong. It is difficult to understand how or why this could have happened.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. The overall response is one of condemnation, with many suggesting that Trump’s actions were indicative of his character. It’s hard to imagine, given all of the negativity, why people would want to attend a Trump event. The event would, surely, be filled with negativity, and it is a question of why anyone would subject themselves to this.
Donald Trump Slams ‘Miserable, Horrible People’ in Audience While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors. Ultimately, the incident serves as another example of Trump’s ability to dominate the conversation, to provoke, and to create controversy. His words, though offensive, were undoubtedly effective in generating attention. While the focus was meant to be on the honored, Trump hijacked the narrative to, once again, center himself.