Donald Trump has reignited his ongoing feud with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, asserting that he will outperform Kimmel as the host of the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors. Speaking from the Oval Office on December 22, 2023, Trump claimed he would deliver a better performance than Kimmel, who has previously hosted the Oscars multiple times. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is set to air on CBS and Paramount+.
During his remarks, Trump expressed confidence in the ratings for the event, suggesting that it would achieve record numbers. “I believe — and I’m gonna make a prediction — this will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done,” he stated. He emphasized that hosting the awards marks a historic first, declaring, “We have never had a president hosting the awards before.”
In a bold critique of Kimmel, Trump remarked, “Jimmy Kimmel was horrible,” adding that if he could not surpass Kimmel’s hosting skills, he should not be president. Reflecting on the honor recipients, Trump noted that he had previously turned down several potential honorees, labeling them as “too woke.” The 2023 honorees included luminaries such as Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, KISS, and Michael Crawford.
Trump’s Unique Hosting Decision
Trump’s decision to host the Kennedy Center Honors himself stems from discussions with aides who suggested that his involvement would boost viewership. “They said, ‘Sir, you’ll get much higher ratings.’ I said, ‘I don’t care. I’m the president of the United States. I won’t do it,’” he recounted. Ultimately, he agreed to the role at the urging of his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
This marks a departure from Trump’s first administration, during which he did not attend the Kennedy Center Honors. His absence followed objections from honorees such as Norman Lear, who stated that he could not celebrate the honor at a White House that did not support the arts.
In a previous announcement, Trump also indicated plans to overhaul the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees. He expressed his intention to remove several members, including its chairman, David Rubenstein, and to reinstate himself as head of the cultural institution. “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Remarks on Honorees and Future Plans
As the evening of the ceremony approached, reports indicated that Trump struggled to refrain from making critical remarks about some attendees. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the honorees, referencing their legendary setbacks, while also expressing his candid opinions. “Many of you are miserable, horrible people. You are persistent,” he reportedly said.
As the first airing of Trump’s hosting has yet to occur, anticipation and speculation surround how his performance will be received. The Kennedy Center Honors has traditionally featured prominent comedians, actors, and journalists, with past hosts including Stephen Colbert, Queen Latifah, and David Letterman.
While Trump’s comments have generated considerable media attention, Kimmel has yet to publicly respond to the former president’s claims. Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, is scheduled to air a new episode on Monday night, which may address the ongoing rivalry.
As the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony unfolds, it remains to be seen how Trump’s hosting will reshape the event’s legacy and ratings, further fueling the long-standing battle between the two public figures.
