President Trump extended an invitation to Tom Cruise for this year's Kennedy Center Honors, but the Oscar-nominated actor declined, citing "scheduling conflicts," as reported by various sources.
The gala is set for December 7 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. Cruise's decision was confirmed by several anonymous insiders at the Center, indicating that the actor's busy schedule prevented him from attending.
At 63, Cruise recently released "The Final Reckoning," the latest installment in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, and is currently engaged in multiple projects slated for 2026.
Had he accepted, Cruise would have joined a distinguished group of honorees selected by Trump, which includes notable figures such as Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, British actor Michael Crawford, and country music legend George Strait.
Despite his Hollywood stature, Cruise has maintained a distance from political discussions, opting not to comment on either party. Recently, he deflected a question regarding Trump's policies during a press event for his film when a reporter inquired about the impact of tariffs on movie production.
“We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you,” he replied, steering the conversation back to his work.
Trump, who serves as the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, will host the event. During his first term, he faced protests from artists who refused to attend the honors.
This year marks a departure from tradition; instead of announcing the 2025 honorees through a press release, Trump revealed his selections during a press conference. He expressed admiration for Stallone's iconic roles in "Rambo" and "Rocky," praised Gaynor’s classic hit “I Will Survive,” and hinted at a special performance by Kiss during the ceremony.
Trump noted his active role in the selection process, stating, “I turned down plenty. They were too woke. I had a couple of wokesters.” He criticized the current state of award shows, claiming that their ratings have plummeted due to political commentary that alienates audiences.
Calling the Kennedy Center Honors “among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts,” Trump humorously suggested that he might need to honor himself for his previous work on “The Apprentice” next year.
