WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug 16: Actor Tom Cruise has reportedly declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to receive a Kennedy Center Honor this year. According to the Washington Post, Cruise informed Trump that he could not attend the gala at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Dec. 7 due to scheduling conflicts. The refusal was confirmed by multiple anonymous sources at the Center.

The 63-year-old actor, known for his role in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, recently released the latest installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, in May, and is currently involved in several projects slated for 2026.

Cruise was initially selected to lead a star-studded group of honorees personally chosen by Trump, which included Sylvester Stallone, rock band Kiss, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, British actor Michael Crawford, and country music star George Strait.

The “Top Gun” star has avoided political commentary, declining to address questions about Trump during a press tour for his recent film. When asked about the former president’s tariffs, Cruise responded, “We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you.”

Trump, serving as chairman of the Kennedy Center, will host the event. He revealed the 2025 honorees during a press conference, breaking with the tradition of issuing a press release. This marks the first class of honorees under Trump’s stewardship.

During the announcement, Trump praised Stallone’s roles in Rambo and Rocky, described Gaynor’s 1978 hit “I Will Survive” as timeless, and teased a special performance from Kiss. He also noted that he played a significant role in selecting the honorees and filtered out some candidates.

The president referred to previous Academy Awards and honors ceremonies as “woke” and suggested that declining attendance by some artists affected viewership. Trump also joked about potentially honoring himself in the future for his work on The Apprentice.