Why Tom Cruise won’t be at the Kennedy Center ceremony in Washington

Tom Cruise has decided not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony scheduled for December 7. The main reason for this decision was the actor’s busy schedule, which has sparked discussions due to the event’s political aspects and the personalities of the laureates.

The famous actor, star of films such as “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun”, declined Donald Trump’s offer to become one of the awardees. According to the Washington Post, Cruise cited a “scheduling conflict” that prevented him from participating in the event, which will be held in Washington.

In May of this year, the actor presented the new installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, titled “The Final Countdown,” and is currently working on other projects, the release of which is scheduled for 2026. Despite the president’s invitation, Cruise has decided to avoid public politics and refrained from commenting on Trump.

President Trump, who headed the Kennedy Center this year, announced the 2025 laureates himself. The list includes rock band Kiss, actor Sylvester Stallone, country musician George Strait, disco star Gloria Gaynor, and British actor Michael Crawford. Trump stressed that he actively participated in the selection of laureates and “rejected numerous nominations” that he considered “too progressive”.

At a press conference, Trump said, “I was involved about 98 percent. They all went through me.” The president also joked that next year he plans to present the award to himself for his participation in the film “The Apprentice: The Trump Story”.

Against the background of Trump’s actions in the artistic sphere, protests are taking place near the Kennedy Center. The US President noted during a press conference that “we have completely stopped the decline of this respected national institution” and expressed his intention to make the Kennedy Center the country’s main stage.

Meanwhile, Cruise will receive his first honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards, which will recognize outstanding achievements in cinematography.