Kelsey Grammer’s Trump Praise at Kennedy Center Honors

Kelsey Grammer, famed for his role as Dr. Frasier Crane, recently attended the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C., offering high praise for President Donald Trump, who hosted the event.

‘He’s one of the greatest presidents we’ve ever had; maybe the greatest,’ Grammer, 70, remarked at a related State Department dinner honouring the Kennedy Center medal presentation. The actor, born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, stated that he finds Trump ‘extraordinary’.

Grammer was photographed on the red carpet with his 13-year-old daughter, Faith, whom he shares with his wife, Kayte Walsh. He donned a classic black tuxedo, while Faith wore a vibrant floral silk dress.

Grammer expressed his optimism regarding Trump’s accomplishments during his second term in office. ‘There are some things he still wants to get done, and I think that’s terrific,’ he stated, acknowledging the challenges Trump faced upon returning to the Oval Office after Joe Biden’s four-year term. ‘There was a big hill to climb.’

As one of Hollywood’s more outspoken conservatives, Grammer noted that Americans ‘were left with some very interesting things going on’ as Trump began his second term, following his victory over former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Grammer also spoke about Sylvester Stallone’s recognition at the Kennedy Center Honors, remarking that it was ‘about time’ the Rocky star received such a prestigious honour.

‘I was on the selection committee, so I knew about it,’ Grammer disclosed. ‘He’s a force of nature.’ He added, ‘Sylvester Stallone has captured our imagination in several different roles and performed them beautifully.’

This isn’t the first instance of Grammer publicly supporting Trump. He previously lauded Trump as a game-changer during his initial term in 2019.

‘I don’t think Washington didn’t do us any favors for the last 50, 60 years, I think they’ve all been sort of the same party, the same bunch of clowns, the same bunch of really unpleasant people,’ Grammer said in a 2019 interview. ‘And I don’t think they’ve been helping anybody but themselves.’

Addressing the anti-Trump sentiments prevalent in Hollywood during Trump’s first term, Grammer added, ‘Certainly passions run high, and certainly he has touched on an extraordinarily passionate response. I don’t know if it’s as serious or horrible as everybody wants it to be.’

President Trump announced over the summer that he would be hosting the Kennedy Center Honors. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on December 23.

During a State Department dinner, Trump predicted that his hosting of the annual ceremony would result in record-breaking viewership.

‘It’s going to be something that I believe, and I’m going to make a prediction: This will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done,’ Trump stated. He added that previous Kennedy Center Honors broadcasts have ‘gotten some pretty good ratings, but there’s nothing like what’s going to happen.’

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Tradition of Recognition

The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual event that recognises individuals for their lifetime contributions to American performing arts. The honorees are selected by the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees.

The honorees typically represent a wide range of artistic disciplines, including:

Music
Dance
Theatre
Opera
Motion Pictures
Television

The ceremony itself is a star-studded affair, featuring performances and tributes to the honorees. It is considered one of the most prestigious cultural events in the United States.

The selection process involves a committee of artists and leaders in the performing arts who make recommendations to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. The board then votes on the final honorees.

The Kennedy Center Honors have a long and rich history, celebrating the achievements of countless artists who have enriched American culture. The event continues to be a highlight of the cultural calendar, showcasing the power and importance of the performing arts.

Past honorees include: