President Donald Trump, it turns out, is a fan of good concert music sound, the younger generation, and country music, but not so much Kiss or the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers.
In what some call the longest red carpet talk in recent memory, the President walked up with his wife Melania on an entrance to the Kennedy Center, awaiting entry as the audience for Sunday night's annual honors entered.
President Trump was named host of this year's event, the first president to do so and something, he said, the television network wanted him to do.
Turning to waiting reporters, Mr. Trump praised the Kennedy Center, which is just up a street from the White House and which he says has had great sound for musicians "from day one, call it luck or talent," since it was founded in 1978.
"One thing some of the best opera houses" and places around the world that boast good sound "have in common is lots of marble." And the Kennedy Center does too.
The honorees Sunday night were the rock group Kiss, pop singer Gloria Gaynor, country singer/songwriter George Strait, operatic singer/actor Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone.
Using his recent influence with the center, Trump had the ceremonies redesigned from previous years, adding medallions and darker colors.
"The young generation, I think, is going to grow up strong. I won the young vote, Republicans never win the young vote," he said.
When asked about the proposed merger announced last week between Netflix and Warner Brothers, the president said "it's a question, they [Neflix] have a very big market share," which has been bothering some economists.
"That's for some economists to consider, and I'll be involved in that," but Mr. Trump was evidently showing doubts about the anti-competitive aspects of the possible merger.
And the president said moments later, "I love country music."
"We have the king of country music tonight," referring to Texas' own George Strait.
But when asked his favorite Kiss song, Mr. Trump didn't answer, instead saying "I've listened to their music over the years, they're characters too, y'know."