President Trump hosts the Kennedy Center Honors

President Trump played a central role at the annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7, departing from tradition by serving as the evening’s host.

The awards, which have gone to stars including Sylvester Stallone and Gloria Gaynor, were presented by the president during a ceremony the day before in the Oval Office.

Previous hosts of the awards ceremony included Walter Cronkite, Steven Colbert and Caroline Kennedy – the daughter of John F. Kennedy – but Trump is the first president to host it.

Earlier this year, Trump ousted the leadership of the Kennedy Center and replaced much of the board with Republican supporters. President Trump was later elected president of the institution, which he announced he would rename the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”