President Donald Trump’s attempts to amass power for himself and push his restrictive conservative agenda have extended to the arts and entertainment industries, as he has taken over the Kennedy Center and its prestigious honors ceremony. Among the awardees chosen by Trump this year, one name is drawing extreme reactions: Gloria Gaynor. Some are urging the famed disco singer to reject the endorsement by Trump.
Trump announces list of ‘anti-woke’ 1980s icons as Kennedy Center honorees
Trump announced the artists intended for celebration at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. Along with Gaynor, the list includes Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, the rock band Kiss, action star Sylvester Stallone and country singer/songwriter George Strait. The artists, all in their 70s or 80s, were popular in the 1980s, when Trump enjoyed fame as a real estate mogul and public personality. In announcing this year’s honorees, Trump noted that he vetted all the potential awardees, rejecting some he characterized as “wokesters,” though he didn’t specify what artists he may have vetoed. Trump also announced that he would personally host the show.
Gaynor urged to reject the award
Given Trump’s anti-“woke” agenda, the inclusion of Gaynor has been curious. She is the only Black artist among this year’s honorees. Her music and style have also made her very popular among the LGBTQ+ community, while Trump’s policies have often focused on scaling back LGBTQ+ rights and recognition. Gaynor has not given a direct public response to the honor. Although her X account reposted the announcement that she and the other artists had been chosen, her account appears to have been deactivated on Thursday. Many, meanwhile, are saying that Gaynor should not accept the recognition. The View cohost Anna Navarro urged Gaynor to turn down the honor.
“I wish she wouldn’t accept an award from the hands of a man who has attacked the rights and history of women, people of color and LGBTQ,” Navarro wrote in part on her Instagram account. “Trump is a stain on the prestige and significance of the KCH,” Navarro continued. “Don’t do it, Gloria!”
Trump went from ignoring the Kennedy Center to taking it over
The concern over Gaynor’s reaction to the honor reflects the larger controversy concerning Trump’s tumultuous relationship with the Kennedy Center. In 2017, Trump’s first year in office, several Kennedy Center honorees skipped the traditional pre-ceremony event at the White House, and Trump responded by skipping the honors ceremony throughout his term. Upon returning to the presidency this year, Trump quickly took control of the organization, firing several members of its governing board. Trump was then voted chairman of the organization, leading to prominent members such as Shonda Rhimes resigning from the center.
The Trump-hosted Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is scheduled to take place in December, giving Gaynor plenty of time to decide how she will react to being chosen by Trump for this honor and for her fans to determine how they will respond to her decision.
