Trump suffers fresh embarrassment as Kennedy Center speech becomes least-watched ever

Donald Trump’s return to the spotlight at the Kennedy Center was meant to be a historic moment. Instead, it has turned into another uncomfortable headline. Fresh ratings data now show that the broadcast featuring Trump’s speech drew the smallest audience in the event’s television history.

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What made this Kennedy Center appearance different?

On December 7, President Donald Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, marking the first time a sitting U.S. head of state presented the gala rather than watching from the presidential box. During the ceremony, Trump delivered a 12-minute monologue. When CBS aired the event on December 23, that speech was cut down to roughly two minutes, as per a report by the Irish Star.

The appearance followed controversy over Trump’s suggestion that the venue could be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, a proposal that sparked widespread backlash. Even before the broadcast aired, the move drew criticism across political and cultural lines.

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How low were the TV ratings?

Preliminary figures show the 48th Kennedy Center Honors averaged about 2.65 million viewers. According to Programming Insider, that represents a 35% drop from the 4.1 million viewers who watched the 2024 broadcast. The numbers also mark the lowest viewership in the history of the televised event, as per a report by the Irish Star.

Vulture’s Josef Adalian reacted strongly to the figures on X, calling the ratings outcome a “massacre.”

“Data is wonky right now with Nielsen's new 'big data' panel,” he wrote. “But in prelims, KenCen did just 2.65M. Even with a 25% lift, the show still finishes in the mid-3M range-- well below last year. In demos, it's even more of a massacre-- currently at a 0.14, roughly HALF of the 2024 show."


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Adalian also noted that compared to 2022, the broadcast has seen a 49% decline in viewership.

What did CBS cut from the broadcast?

CBS did not air Trump’s full monologue, removing nearly 10 minutes from the final program. As a result, several remarks made during the live event never reached television audiences, as per a report by the Irish Star.

Among the omitted comments was a moment when Trump reportedly addressed the crowd directly, saying, "If there is one thread that connects all of these amazing artists together, it is the word 'persistence.' I know so many of you, and you are persistent. Many of you are miserable, horrible people. But you are persistent, you never give up. Sometimes I wish you’d give up, but you don't."


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How did Trump react to the ratings?

Despite the disappointing viewership, Trump publicly praised his own performance. Writing on Truth Social, he suggested the role suited him and joked about making hosting his full-time career, as per a report by the Irish Star.


"Tell me what you think of my 'Master of Ceremony' abilities. If really good, would you like me to leave the presidency in order to make 'hosting' a full-time job?” he wrote.

FAQs

Did Trump host the Kennedy Center Honors himself?
Yes. He was the first sitting U.S. president to present the gala.

How many people watched the CBS broadcast?
About 2.65 million viewers, the lowest ever for the event.