Ana Navarro, co-host of The View, urged music legend Gloria Gaynor on Thursday to decline her upcoming Kennedy Center award, since it will be presented by President Donald Trump.
On Instagram, the political commentator recalled meeting the “I Will Survive” singer at a concert, where Gaynor gave her a keychain that played the iconic song.
“Let’s just say that during Trump’s first term, I pressed it until the batteries died,” Navarro, a vocal critic of the former president, wrote.
She went on to voice her disappointment that Gaynor would accept recognition at an event hosted by Trump.
“Yesterday, Trump revealed that he had chosen her as a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor, an event he intends to host. She’s a goddess who absolutely deserves every accolade she receives. But I wish she wouldn’t accept recognition from a man who has worked against the rights and history of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community,” Navarro wrote.
She continued, “The gay community, especially, helped transform her signature song into an anthem. Trump taints the prestige and meaning of the Kennedy Center Honors. Please don’t do it, Gloria!”
On Wednesday, Trump, now serving as Chairman of the Kennedy Center’s Board, unveiled the lineup of honorees for the 48th annual ceremony scheduled for December.
This year’s recipients include Gaynor, country icon George Strait, rock group KISS, actor Sylvester Stallone, and English performer Michael Crawford.
A representative for Gloria Gaynor told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that the singer felt “incredibly blessed and honored” to be chosen for the award.
“My hope is that by accepting this honor, I can carry forward the inspirational journey that began with ‘I Will Survive.’ Sharing my music and artistry on a global stage to bring encouragement, hope, empowerment, inspiration, understanding, and unity has always been at the heart of my purpose,” the rep said on her behalf.
“I’ve dedicated my career to a creative path meant to uplift others, and I hope receiving the Kennedy Center Honor allows me to continue building on that legacy.”
Gaynor’s representatives have not responded to Navarro’s remarks and declined to provide a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday.
The annual awards ceremony will be hosted by Trump following his February shake-up of the Washington, D.C., performing arts center.
Early in his second term, Trump dismissed several Kennedy Center board members — including the president and chairman — and replaced them with allies, who subsequently appointed him as chair.
In a February Truth Social post announcing the shake-up, Trump pledged to make the performing arts center “great again” by ousting board members who, he said, did not align with his administration’s “vision for a Golden Age in arts and culture.”
He cited drag performances “targeting” children as an example of programming he intended to eliminate under his leadership.
The move sparked significant backlash within the theater and film community, prompting several figures — including showrunner Shonda Rhimes, singer Renée Fleming, and actress Issa Rae — to resign from their Kennedy Center roles or cancel scheduled performances in protest.
