Getting Tom Cruise on stage with Donald Trump is a real mission impossible.
The Hollywood action icon reportedly shot down an invitation from the president to be among the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees.
According to The Washington Post, the Top Gun: Maverick star declined the opportunity due to “scheduling conflicts.”
Instead, Trump unveiled a list of 48th Kennedy Center Honors recipients on Wednesday that included the glam metal band Kiss, Broadway star Michael Crawford, country music legend George Strait, singer Gloria Gaynor and, in the film actor category, Sylvester Stallone (who was also on Trump’s list of “special ambassadors” to Hollywood — along with Mel Gibson and Jon Voight — that Trump announced at the start of his second term).
On Wednesday, Trump also announced that he will personally host the ceremony. He noted he always wanted a Kennedy Center award but “was never able to get one … I said, ‘The hell with it, I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor. Next year, we’ll honor Trump, OK?”
Previously, Trump took over the center as chairman, and House Republicans are pushing to rename its opera house for first lady Melania Trump. It remains unclear this measure will receive a full vote in Congress, or if it would pass, to become law.
The hosting move follows Trump announcing that he was forming a special task force in charge of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with himself appointed chairman.
The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will take place on Dec. 7 and will air on CBS. The Kennedy Center, CBS and a representative for Cruise all declined to comment.