Donald and Melania Trump to Skip Kennedy Center Honors
“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.”
The president of the Kennedy Center, Deborah F. Rutter, said in an interview on Saturday
that the decision was made by the White House after “ongoing conversations” this week between the Kennedy Center and Mrs. Trump’s office, but that the Kennedy Center did not ask the White House to back out of the event.
WASHINGTON — The White House announced early Saturday
that President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, would not participate in this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, “to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction.”
The decision was another episode in an already fraught week for the White House.
“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,” the White House statement said.