President Trump Makes History as Host of 2019 Kennedy Center Honors
The annual Kennedy Center Honors took place on December 7th with President Trump taking on the hosting duties for the night. The awards were presented to notable figures such as Sylvester Stallone and Gloria Gaynor in a ceremony held in the Oval Office the day before. This departure from tradition marked Trump as the first president to host the awards show, a role previously held by figures like Walter Cronkite and Steven Colbert.
Earlier this year, President Trump made significant changes to the Kennedy Center's leadership, replacing much of the board of trustees with Republican supporters. As a result, Trump was elected as the chair of the institution and expressed his intention to rename it as the 'Trump-Kennedy Center'.
The 2019 Kennedy Center Honors saw President Trump taking a more active role in the event, breaking away from the traditional hosting format. The awards were presented to deserving recipients in a ceremony held in the Oval Office, with Trump being the first president to host the prestigious event. Trump's involvement in the Kennedy Center's leadership changes earlier in the year further solidified his connection to the institution.