President Donald Trump would love cultural elites to sniff at his Kennedy Center honorees. He relished unveiling the stars he’ll fete at the iconic arts center’s annual gala later this year, after motorcading to the complex Wednesday through streets now patrolled, on his orders, by federal agents and army reservists.

Years later, however, in May 2022, Simmons seemingly likened Trump's camp to "cockroaches" and said he was "out for himself" when speaking to SPIN. "Look what that gentleman [Trump] did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top," the singer said at the time.

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday this year's recipients for Kennedy Center honours, after overhauling the board of the Washington, D.C., performing arts venue at the start of his term.