Actor Tom Cruise has reportedly turned down an invitation from former President Donald Trump to receive a Kennedy Center Honor at this year’s ceremony in Washington, D.C.
According to The Washington Post, the “Mission: Impossible” star declined the offer due to “scheduling conflicts,” as confirmed by several anonymous sources close to the Kennedy Center.
Cruise, 63, recently released his latest action film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, in May, and is currently involved in multiple film projects slated for 2026. Known for keeping a low profile politically, the Oscar-nominated actor has consistently avoided weighing in on partisan issues. During a recent international press event, he sidestepped a question about the impact of Trump-era tariffs on his film production, stating, “We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you.”
This year marks Trump’s first time overseeing the Kennedy Center Honors as chairman. During his presidency, he had skipped the annual event after multiple artists threatened to boycott in protest. Now back in the spotlight, Trump broke tradition by announcing the 2025 honorees at a press conference instead of via the usual press release.
The list of honorees includes Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and the rock band Kiss. Trump praised Stallone’s iconic roles in Rocky and Rambo, called Gaynor’s disco anthem “I Will Survive” a timeless classic, and promised that Kiss would deliver “something very special” at the December 7 ceremony.
Trump also said he was “heavily involved” in the selection process, personally reviewing and filtering potential recipients.
Despite the high-profile invite, Cruise chose to sit this one out.
