Some of this year’s winners have a history of backing Trump, including Sylvester Stallone, who has called Trump “the second George Washington.”

Trump in his first term had chafed at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. He skipped the ceremony repeatedly, with some artists pledging to boycott if he attended. It was White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Trump said Wednesday, who convinced him to host the honors this year.

The president has taken a strong interest in the Kennedy Center’s affairs ever since naming himself chairman in February, when he restocked its traditionally bipartisan board with loyalists.