Trump Awards KISS with Kennedy Center Honor After Gene Simmons Trashed Him

While announcing the recipients of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday, Donald Trump proudly touted that he was “98% involved” in the selection process,” adding that “he turned down plenty — I had a couple of wokesters.” However, despite recent critical comments from frontman Gene Simmons, Trump apparently didn’t have an issue with bestowing the honor on KISS.

Just two years ago, Simmons publicly lashed out against Trump in an interview with SPIN, specifically taking issue with actions he believes contributed to the normalization of racism and conspiracy theories in America. “I knew him before he entered politics. Look what that gentleman did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top. Once upon a time, you were embarrassed to be publicly racist and out there with conspiracy theories. Now it’s all out in the open because he allowed it.”

“I don’t think he’s a Republican or a Democrat,” Simmons added of Trump. “He’s out for himself, any way you can get there. And in the last election, over 70 million people bought it hook, line and sinker.”

It’s unclear whether Trump was aware of Simmons’ comments, or unbothered by them. Either way, on Wednesday, he named KISS recipients of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors alongside country singer George Strait, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor.