UPDATED: Donald Trump opened his hosting gig in much the same way as previous emcees: Running down the list of honorees with words of praise, and sprinkling in a few quips at the audience, made up largely of cabinet members and supporters.
“They say this is the first time that a president of the of the United States has ever hosted the Kennedy Center Honors,” Trump said on stage “… I don’t know why. I am going to try and act like Johnny Carson. I miss Johnny.”
Trump went through the list of honorees and called out figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, but it was not clear how much of Trump’s 12-minute opening remarks will make it into the final broadcast on CBS later this month.
He did offer a few quips — ala Don Rickles.
“If there its one thread that connects all of these amazing artists together, it is the word persistence,” Trump said. “I can say that with a lot of members of our audience. I know so many of you. You are persistent. Many of you are miserable, horrible people. You are persistent. You never give up. Sometimes I wish you’d give up, but you don’t.”
On the red carpet, Trump said that he had not prepared much for the hosting gig. “I didn’t prepare a lot. I have a good memory.”
“You have to be yourself. Johnny Carson was always himself,” he said. He also was asked whether any past presidents could have hosted. “I would say the last one would not have done too well,” Trump said, adding, “John F. Kennedy would have done a very good job, mostly.”
The ceremony opened with the tribute to honoree Sylvester Stallone, with Arturo Sandoval and Bill Conti offering a rendition of Conti’s Rocky theme. Then Kurt Russell made remarks about the actor, who is one of Trump’s “ambassadors to Hollywood.” Others honoring Stallone included his brother, Frank, as well as Neil McDonough and Garrett Hedlund.
After his opening remarks, Trump returned to the presidential box, where he was sitting with Stallone and other honorees Michael Crawford, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and George Strait.
After Stallone’s segment, the audience saw a Trump pre-taped remark where he talked about Crawford, who he called “truly one of the greatest talents I have ever seen on stage.”