KISS bandmembers Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons once called President Donald Trump "abhorrent" and "out for himself." Now, the legendary rock band is being honored by him at the Kennedy Center.

KISS – Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley – are the sixth rock band to receive the Kennedy Center Honors as a group. In 2008, The Who became the first rock band to be honored. They were followed by Led Zeppelin (2012) Eagles, (2016), U2 (2022) and Grateful Dead (2024).

This is the first Kennedy Center Honors since President Trump took over as chairman of the prestigious institution and pledged to turn it in a more conservative direction