Tom Cruise declines Kennedy Center honor under Trump’s second term: Report

Hollywood star Tom Cruise reportedly turned down an invitation to be among the inaugural Kennedy Center Honorees under President Trump’s second term. According to a Washington Post report, Cruise declined due to ‘scheduling conflicts’, as confirmed by current and former Kennedy Center staff speaking anonymously.

President Trump unveiled this year’s honorees, Sylvester Stallone, country music icon George Strait, disco legend Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, and British theater star Michael Crawford (best known for Phantom of the Opera), as per reports. 

In a break from tradition, Trump reportedly announced the honorees at a press conference and said he would host the gala, which traditionally occurs in early December. This marks Trump’s first such selection since assuming the chairmanship of the Kennedy Center earlier this year and is part of his effort to assert control over the prestigious arts institution.

Tom Cruise’s most recent movie is Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth installment in the iconic action franchise. It premiered at Cannes earning a five-minute standing ovation on May 14, 2025 and was released theatrically in India on May 17, ahead of its US debut on May 23, 2025