President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will not attend the annual Kennedy Center honors — a traditional showcase of the nation’s…
Here’s our look at the Trump administration and the rest of Washington:
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will not attend the annual Kennedy Center honors — a traditional showcase of the nation’s arts — over concerns of a political distraction, the White House said Saturday.
Skipping the December gala comes as the president’s entire 17-member arts council quit Friday in protest over his response to the neo-Nazi rally that turned violent in Charlottesville, Va.
«The President and First Lady have decided not to participate in this year’s activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction, » Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.
«First Lady Melania Trump, along with her husband President Donald J. Trump, extend their sincerest congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s award recipients for their many accomplishments.»
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and five honorees announced this month include top artists.
The Kennedy Center said Saturday it was «grateful» for the decision and said all honorees will now be attending the awards ceremony.
«The Kennedy Center respects the decision made today by the office of the President of the United States, » said Chairman David M. Rubenstein and President Deborah F. Rutter in a statement.
«In choosing not to participate in this year’s Honors activities, the Administration has graciously signaled its respect for the Kennedy Center and ensures the Honors gala remains a deservingly special moment for the Honorees. We are grateful for this gesture.»
The White House did not provide details about its concerns.
However, some honorees had said they would skip the reception with the president that is traditionally held at the White House before the event, according to the Washington Post.
Television producer Norman Lear, singer Lionel Richie and dancer Carmen de Lavallade said the would not attend the reception at the White House, the report said. Another honoree, Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan, was planning to attend in hopes of influencing the president on immigration issues, while rapper LL Cool J has not said whether he would go.
That pre-gala event will no longer take place, the Kennedy Center said, all honorees will attend the December ceremony as planned.
Other high-profile guests have declined invitations to the White House in protest of the president.
The collapse of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities followed the departure of top business executives from his manufacturing and infrastructure council, which the White House later dismantled.
