Gene Simmons, the iconic rocker from Kiss, made an unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room on Friday. This surprise visit coincided with President Donald Trump’s attendance at the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center across town.

Accompanied by his wife Shannon Tweed and son Nick, Simmons found himself surrounded by a throng of enthusiastic reporters eager to capture the moment. Nick, concerned about the media frenzy, urged his father to step away, cautioning, “The longer you stay up there, the more likely you are to get into trouble.”

The bassist’s presence in Washington was twofold. Not only is he set to receive recognition at the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, now managed by the President, but he is also scheduled to testify before the Senate on Tuesday. His testimony will advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a proposed law that aims to ensure radio stations pay artists for airing their music.

While at the White House podium, Simmons highlighted this significant issue, using the opportunity to address the matter directly.

Simmons will also testify before the Senate on Tuesday in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which will require radio corporations to pay recording artists for their music. 

That was the main issue he addressed from the White House podium. 

‘If there’s an artist who’s heard on radio they should get paid,’ Simmons said. 

He claimed that radio stations are making billions of dollars using artists’ likeness in their advertising campaigns.    

Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss crashed the White House briefing room Friday afternoon while President Donald Trump was across town at the World Cup Draw. He talked to reporters about a piece of legislation he’s supporting to help musicians 

Gene Simmons held an impromptu press briefing Friday afternoon from the White House briefing room podium 

Kiss rocker Gene Simmons (center) stands alongside his son Nick Simmons (left) during a visit to the White House briefing room on Friday 

‘Can the artists that we all admire from Sinatra to Elvis have a little bit of that? Would that be OK?’ he mused. 

‘So this is our bipartisan bill that will get passed because the president is very pro-artist,’ Simmons added.

Earlier this year, Trump hosted Kid Rock in the Oval Office and signed an executive order that cracked down on ticket scalping, a practice artists generally dislike because it prices out parts of their fanbase. 

Simmons pointed out that America was the birthplace for the ‘music of the world.’ 

‘Rock and roll, blues, jazz – most of it from black music, of course – country western, hip-hop was invented right here and we’re letting our artists, the voices of America, American culture, get by, working hard on their craft, and not getting paid,’ the Kiss rocker added.

Simmons answered another question and started answering another – on free speech – when Tweed decided it was time for her husband to go. 

She whistled at him from the seating area of the briefing room, with son Nick standing next to the door. 

‘Simmons, your times up. Seriously, we’ve gotta go,’ Tweed said. 

‘The longer you stand up there, the higher the chances you get canceled,’ son Nick Simmons yelled up at his father as he stood by the doors of the White House briefing room

Gene Simmons’ wife, Shannon Tweed, grabbed him from the briefing room podium to ensure he didn’t get in trouble for any of the answers he gave to members of the White House press corps 

When a reporter asked what was on his schedule for the rest of the day – and if he would meet with Trump, he started to divulge his plans. 

‘The rest of the day, we’re going to have dinner, am I allowed to say?’ Simmons asked his wife. 

‘No,’ Tweed answered, prompting laughter. 

Simmons then acknowledged he would be meeting with Trump, as is customary for Kennedy Center Honorees. 

‘I respect the presidency,’ he said. 

Tweed walked to the front of the briefing room to grab her husband from the stage, dragging him out the door. 

‘It was wonderful to talk to me,’ Simmons cracked at reporters as he made his exit. 

Son Nick then floated a warm relationship with Trump adding, ‘I call him Donny.’ 

This wasn’t the first cameo Simmons has made at the Trump White House.  

The Daily Mail captured Simmons and Tweed taking in a Marine One departure from the South Lawn in May 2019.

During that trip, Simmons took selfies with reporters and popped into the Pentagon’s briefing room.