Broadway legend Michael Crawford told reporters he was “so pleased, so excited” after President Trump personally honored him in the Oval Office — a plain, heartfelt reaction that should remind Americans what real appreciation for the arts looks like. Crawford’s modesty on the red carpet stood in stark contrast to the sour, performative outrage we’ve grown used to from coastal elites when anyone with traditional values dares to celebrate American achievement.
President Trump presented the 2025 Kennedy Center medallions in the Oval Office on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, personally recognizing a class of honorees that included Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, and the rock band KISS. The ceremony was exactly the sort of patriotic, star-powered celebration the left media pretends to despise but secretly can’t resist covering.
This wasn’t some tepid, bureaucratic handoff — it was a president stepping forward to honor real American cultural contributions, and he did it in a way that put the spotlight on performers rather than on political correctness. The decision to host and personally present the medallions sent a message that America’s culture and entertainers are worth defending and celebrating, not canceling.
Crawford noted that President Trump is a genuine fan of his Phantom of the Opera work, and he said having a president who likes theater is a “great advantage” for the industry. Conservatives should relish the simple truth that leaders who appreciate excellence — across pop, country, rock, disco, and Broadway — help keep American stages full and audiences engaged.
Let the record show that this ceremony will air for the public to judge on Dec. 23, and millions will see an unapologetic celebration of artistry, grit, and American resilience. While the left continues its culture-war purges, President Trump and these honorees reminded hardworking Americans that talent, perseverance, and patriotism still matter — and that’s something to cheer.
