The annual Kennedy Center Honors broadcast, featuring former President Donald Trump as host, experienced a significant decline in viewership, drawing 35 percent fewer viewers than the previous year. This substantial ratings drop coincided with a controversial, unofficial attempt by a board to rename the iconic Washington D.C. performing arts center after the former president, a move that sparked widespread criticism and legal questions.
Preliminary Nielsen data revealed that the televised awards show, aired on CBS, attracted an estimated 2.65 million viewers. This figure represents the smallest audience ever recorded for the prestigious event, sharply contrasting with the 4.1 million viewers who tuned in for the 2024 broadcast. The notable downturn in viewership marks a significant moment for the traditionally well-watched cultural celebration.
Former President Trump became the first sitting or former president to host the awards, an opportunity he reportedly boasted about, claiming requests from the venue’s board and “just about everybody else in America.” He later promoted the event on Truth Social, controversially billing it as “THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER HONORS” following a board vote to rename the institution in his honor.
CBS, the network broadcasting the event, significantly edited Trump’s opening remarks. His 12-minute address from the December 7 event was condensed to just two minutes for television viewers. Furthermore, CBS leadership reportedly issued internal directives to its staff, instructing them to refer to the event and building by its original name, “Kennedy Center,” clarifying that any official name change would necessitate Congressional approval.
This network stance underscored the legal complexities surrounding the board’s unilateral decision to rename the center. An internal email to staffers, obtained by The Washington Post, emphasized that “an official name change only comes from Congress.” This position was echoed by legal experts, who questioned the legitimacy of the board’s vote, which was reportedly comprised of Trump appointees.
David Super, a Georgetown law professor, stated earlier this year that “under current law, there I think is very little question that the Kennedy Center board cannot rename the Opera House after Melania Trump or pretty much anybody else and would need Congress’s permission for anything like that.” He described the relevant statute as “unequivocal,” asserting that no loopholes exist for such a change without legislative action.
The attempted renaming drew sharp condemnation from relatives of the late President John F. Kennedy, after whom the center is named. Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, expressed her profound disapproval on X, stating she was left “speechless, and enraged, and in a state of disbelief” by the board’s action.
Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, linked the controversial renaming attempt to his own ongoing congressional campaign in New York. Schlossberg asserted on X that the decision was a retaliatory measure, claiming, “Our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat,” suggesting a political motivation behind the board’s unprecedented action.
