CBS Edits Trump’s Kennedy Center Speech to Two Minutes, Omits New Name
President Donald Trump’s address at the Kennedy Center Honors faced significant edits by CBS. The network shortened his monologue from approximately 12 minutes to just two minutes for the televised broadcast.
CBS Edits Trump’s Kennedy Center Speech
The decision to cut Trump’s remarks was made following a vote by the board of the Kennedy Center. They considered a name change to the “Trump-Kennedy Center” but acknowledged that official alterations would require Congressional approval.
Details of the Edit
- The broadcast omitted several of Trump’s humorous remarks, including a quip about the audience being “miserable, horrible people.”
- Jack Renaud, CBS’s senior director of standards and practices, clarified that CBS would continue to refer to the venue as the “Kennedy Center.”
- Any reference to the new name would only be used when quoting Trump or his administration.
On the morning of the broadcast, Trump promoted the event on Truth Social, describing it as “THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER HONORS” and encouraging viewers to tune in at 8 P.M. EST. In response, Renaud emphasized that CBS should avoid using the new name unless quoting officials unaware of the formal renaming process.
Trump’s Limited Role at the Event
During the ceremony, Trump appeared infrequently onstage. He primarily introduced honorees through video segments recorded from the Oval Office.
Additionally, CBS took the opportunity to air a trailer for a forthcoming Netflix documentary featuring First Lady Melania Trump during a commercial break. This event coincides with the scheduled premiere at the Kennedy Center.
