Tom Cruise Declines Kennedy Center Honors During Trump’s Term

Cruise Turns Down the Offer

Tom Cruise has reportedly refused an invitation to join the first group of Kennedy Center Honorees during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Sources told The Washington Post that the 63-year-old actor declined due to “scheduling conflicts.” Current and former Kennedy Center staff confirmed the claim. Cruise’s spokesperson gave no comment. PEOPLE also reached out to his team but received no reply.

Trump’s Involvement in the Selection

President Trump, 79, has taken a stronger role in shaping the Kennedy Center’s direction. The 2025 honorees include George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone. The ceremony will take place on Dec. 7, airing later on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

During the announcement at the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations, Trump said he was “98 percent involved” in picking the group. “They all went through me,” he stated. He also noted that this year’s lineup is “very different” from the past.

Cruise Still Set for an Honorary Oscar

Although he declined this honor, Cruise will still receive recognition for his impact on the film industry. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in June that he will get an Honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards on Nov. 16. Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will also be honored. Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Career Highlights and Future Projects

Cruise has earned Oscar nominations for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia. He also earned a Best Picture nomination for producing Top Gun: Maverick.
Earlier this summer, he starred in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. He recently finished filming an untitled project with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, set for release in October 2026.