Tommy Thayer Says Donald Trump Is ‘Doing A Fantastic Job’ After Kiss Receive Kennedy Center Honors

Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer has praised U.S. president Donald Trump following the band’s appearance at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, telling LindellTV that Trump is “doing a fantastic job” in his second term.

The comments came only hours after Kiss were formally recognised at the White House, with the ceremony also honouring George Strait and other American cultural figures.

Speaking to host Cara Castronuova, Thayer described the night as a career milestone, saying:

“Well, [President Trump’s] got very good taste in music, obviously. We had a great event last night… And it was really a highlight of all of our year.” When asked whether he ever imagined receiving an award from a U.S. president, he added: “It’s a big honor… And President Trump has done a fantastic job.”

Pressed further on Trump’s presidency, Thayer doubled down: “I think he’s doing a fantastic job. I think that it’s a tough job in a lot of ways… but I think he does an excellent job.” He also noted that music fans cut across political lines, calling music “the language of all people.”

Opinions vary

Other Kiss members also weighed in during red carpet interviews, Paul Stanley described the honour as “surreal”, reflecting on growing up with nothing before standing in the Oval Office receiving national recognition.

Gene Simmons took a different angle, commenting more on the décor than policy, saying Trump’s gold laden office “looks terrific” compared with earlier presidencies.

Original drummer Peter Criss echoed the significance of the moment, describing the Oval Office as “history” and calling the experience “dynamite”.

Kiss’s’s relationship with Trump has long been complicated, Simmons once called Trump “good for the political system”, only to later condemn the polarisation of his presidency.

Stanley, meanwhile, has been openly critical of Trump’s behaviour following the 2020 election, describing his refusal to concede as “ABHORRENT” and labelling January 6 rioters as “TERRORISTS”.

Thayer’s positive remarks highlight that, within Kiss, political perspectives remain as varied as ever, even while the band continues to be celebrated as a defining force in American rock.