Rock legends KISS just scored a Kennedy Center Honor, a nod that’s got their fans cheering and their critics scratching their heads.
Breitbart reported that President Donald Trump, as Kennedy Center chairman, announced the band’s selection for 2025, despite some members’ past verbal volleys against him. It’s a curious twist, blending cultural prestige with political irony.
KISS, alongside Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Michael Crawford, and Gloria Gaynor, was named a 2025 honoree on August 20, 2025.
The announcement celebrates the band’s decades-long contribution to American culture through their theatrical rock performances.
Gene Simmons called KISS “the embodiment of the American dream.” That’s a bold claim for a band known for face paint and pyrotechnics, but it’s hard to argue with their global influence. Still, the American dream doesn’t always align with every band member’s politics.
KISS’s Mixed Political Past
Paul Stanley, KISS’s frontman, hasn’t been shy about slamming Trump. In 2020, he called Trump’s election-rigging claims “incendiary & abhorrent,” accusing him of undermining free elections. That’s a far cry from the gratitude he’s now expressing for the honor.
Stanley also accused Trump of fueling “TERRORISTS” during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, labeling it an “armed insurrection.”
Such fiery words make his current praise for the Kennedy Center nod feel like a diplomatic pivot. Hypocrisy? Maybe, but gratitude often softens sharp edges.
Ace Frehley, KISS’s former guitarist, stands in contrast, having proudly backed Trump in 2020. His support adds a layer of complexity to the band’s dynamic, showing KISS isn’t a monolith on politics. Frehley called the honor “a dream come true,” likely savoring the moment without reservation.
Peter Criss, the band’s original drummer, gushed, “I feel so blessed.” It’s a heartfelt sentiment, but one wonders if he’s reflecting on the irony of accepting an honor from a figure some bandmates scorned. The Kennedy Center stage doesn’t care about old tweets, though.
Simmons, ever the showman, has previously praised Trump, aligning more closely with Frehley’s views. His comment about the American dream ties KISS’s success to hard work and opportunity—values conservatives often champion. Yet, it’s a bit rich coming from a band that’s also cashed in on spectacle.
Stanley’s acceptance speech leaned hard into KISS’s legacy, saying the band “embodied the American ideal that all things are possible.” Nice words, but they gloss over his past attacks on Trump’s rhetoric. It’s as if he’s hoping fans forget his 2020 X posts.
A Cultural Milestone
The Kennedy Center Honors recognize lifetime contributions to American culture, and KISS’s inclusion is no small feat. From “Rock and Roll All Nite” to sold-out arenas, their larger-than-life persona redefined rock stardom. Even detractors can’t deny their cultural footprint.
Trump’s role as chairman adds a political edge to the announcement. For a band with such vocal splits in its leadership, the honor feels like a bridge over troubled waters. Conservatives might chuckle at Stanley’s sudden humility.
Criss called this “the greatest honor of our career.” It’s a unifying moment for a band that’s weathered lineup changes and public spats. But the spotlight also illuminates their contradictions.
KISS’s selection highlights the tension between art and politics. Stanley’s past critiques of Trump as dangerous now coexist with his gratitude for an honor Trump announced. It’s a reminder that cultural accolades often demand a truce, however uneasy.
Frehley’s pro-Trump stance makes his joy at the honor straightforward, but Stanley’s shift feels calculated. His 2020 claim that Trump insulted voters by questioning elections doesn’t square easily with accepting this accolade. Principles, it seems, bend under prestige’s weight.
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Author: Benjamin Clark
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