Tom Cruise, 63,didn’t end up taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors when Donald Trump was running things.
He was offered the chance to be one of the first honorees under Trump’s second term, but Cruise said no. People close to the Kennedy Center told The Washington Post he turned it down because of “scheduling conflicts.”
His rep refused to comment.
Trump tried to put his mark on the Kennedy Center
Earlier this year, Trump, 79, pushed harder to have control over the Kennedy Center arts complex.
The new class of honorees is revealed
For 2025, the lineup included George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and Sylvester Stallone.
The big show is set for Dec. 7, and you’ll be able to watch it later on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.
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Trump said he was deeply involved in the picks
When the honorees were announced at the Hall of Nations, Trump made it clear he played a big role.
“I would say I was about 98 percent involved. They all went through me,” the president said, according to the Post. “… I had a couple of wokesters. Now, we have great people. This is very different than it used to be, very different.”
Cruise still has another honor coming
Even though he skipped the Kennedy Center event, Cruise is set to get a different award. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences already said he’ll be given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards on Nov. 16, 2025.
That same night, Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will be recognized too. Dolly Parton is also receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Cruise has been in the Oscar spotlight before
Cruise has a history with the Oscars already. He earned nominations for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia.
He also picked up a Best Picture nod as a producer on Top Gun: Maverick, which turned into a massive global hit.
His film work hasn’t slowed down
This summer he starred in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. He also just wrapped filming a new project with Alejandro G. Iñárritu that’s expected to hit theaters in October 2026.
Talk of another Top Gun sequel is heating up
After Paramount and Skydance finished their merger, CEO David Ellison said another Top Gun movie is high on his list.
Maverick pulled in more than a billion dollars worldwide in 2022, so a follow-up was almost expected.
“One of our biggest priorities is restoring Paramount as the No. 1 destination for the most talented artists and filmmakers in the world,” Ellison told The Hollywood Reporter. “Great filmmakers make great movies.”
