KISS 'honored' to accept Kennedy Center award, despite calling Trump 'abhorrent'

Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News on Aug 15, 2025

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NEW YORK — KISS has apparently had a change of heart about Donald Trump amid the president’s announcement of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, which include the induction of the beloved ’70s glam-rock band.

Founding members of the Grammy-nominated group, who have previously called the MAGA leader “abhorrent” and referred to his supporters as “cockroaches,” expressed gratitude for the prestigious recognition.

“From our earliest days, KISS has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off,” singer-songwriter Paul Stanley told TMZ this week. “The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of KISS and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band.”

Gene Simmons, the more recognizable bassist and co-lead singer, added that the group was “deeply honored” to receive the award.

Drummer Peter Criss called it “the greatest honor of our career,” while guitarist Ace Frehley — who publicly supported Trump in 2020 — said it was “a dream come true that I never thought would materialize.”

The KISS frontmen are seemingly capitulating to the political power of the two-term Republican. Their latest comments are in stark contrast to just a few years ago, when Trump floated early conspiracy theories about the 2020 election being “rigged.”

“REGARDLESS of who you support, it is incendiary & abhorrent for ANY candidate to say ‘If I lose, the election is rigged,’” Stanley tweeted at the time. “It’s an insult to those who have fought for the free, safe elections we have and dangerously implies that citizens who don’t share your views are the enemy.”

The New York City native later blasted the January 6 Capitol rioters, calling them “terrorists.”

In 2022, Simmons criticized Trump and his cronies in an interview with SPIN magazine: “Look what that gentleman [Trump] did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top.”

“I don’t think he’s a Republican or a Democrat,” he added. “He’s out for himself, any way you can get there. And in the last election, over 70 million people bought it hook, line and sinker.”

Given their comments, it came as a surprise to some that Trump praised KISS as “a global phenomenon” during his Kennedy Center Honors remarks on Wednesday.

“They made a fortune, and they’re great people, and they deserve it,” he said. “They work hard, and they’re still working hard.”

In addition to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees include disco queen Gloria Gaynor, “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone, country singer George Strait and British theater actor Michael Crawford.

Trump, himself, said he will host the Dec. 7 event in Washington, D.C.