Trump, first lady to skip Kennedy Center Honors over concerns of "political distraction"

[Miles Archer]

Source: Washington Post

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have elected not to attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors in December amid a political backlash among those who will be feted at the event.

The first family will not participate “to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Saturday morning.

The announcement comes as three of the five honorees — television producer Norman Lear, singer Lionel Richie and dancer Carmen de Lavallade — said they would boycott the traditional White House reception related to the celebration. As for the other two, rapper LL Cool J has not said whether he would attend, and Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan said she would go to try to influence the president on immigration issues.

The White House occupants have traditionally attended the Kennedy Center program each year. But the backlash against Trump was prompted by his handling of the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville last weekend, which ended in the death of a counterprotester.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/08/19/trump-first-lady-to-skip-kennedy-center-honors-over-concerns-of-political-distraction/

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[spiderpig]

1. Good!

Who thought up that excuse? Interim White House Communications squeeze - er - Director Hope Hicks?

They'll probably be booted out of The Dump (People's House) by December, anyway.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I expect that was a Kelly decision.

the others are too lunatic to come up with something like that.

[GoCubsGo]

7. It wouldn't surprise me if Trump made the decision.

He probably didn't want to go anyway, as he has no desire to sit through anything that honors someone else. If it can't be all about him, or what he likes, he he'd rather be home watching "the shows" and tweeting from his toilet. It's like a five-year-old being forced to sit through an opera performance, when he'd rather be home watching "Sesame Street."

I'm sure Kelly came up with the excuses, however. Although, I'm sure he would make this decision, as well.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Yes.

Unless the event is a Drumpf "pep rally" or can be transformed into a "pep rally", then he doesn't want to bother. And that is pretty much what I was getting at regarding Kelly - this was an "establishment-generated excuse".

[bitterross]

49. Excellent Point. He's probably very happy he has an "excuse" not to go.

Unless he can sing his favorite aria "me, me, me, me, me..." it isn't worth his time.

[Eliot Rosewater]

54. Great point, and what does it tell you that fifty million voters

love a man who is a spoiled 9 yr old child in every way.

There is not one example of him not being so, not one.

And they fucking ADORE him.

Wow, are we fucked up or what.

[sinkingfeeling]

29. My first thought as well.

[metalbot]

50. Just so you know

If you think that there's more than a 20% chance that Trump will NOT be president at the end of the year, then there are predictive markets you should look at. Right now it's $20 to buy a $100 contract for Trump to not be president at year end.

[riversedge]

3. I am glad to see this. Yet, sad for America

[Miles Archer]

4. Many fine memories of the Obamas getting lost in their rock & roll and drifting away...

So hard to imagine Trump's stone face and Melania's blank, angry stare throughout a performance like that.

Music and the arts in general are the heart of America, the voice of America. There's no room at the table for the heartless.

[mobeau69]

37. My favorite is of 2012

[Old Vet]

46. Oh man, The Led Zeppelin tribute was the best, Would of been better without kid rock though......

[mobeau69]

57. Yep, Heart did an outstanding Zep cover.

I started following BH afterwards. Practically nobody, except Buddy Guy, knew who she was. They do now.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

5. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the honorees...

The honorees at the Dec. 3 ceremony are Carmen de Lavallade, Gloria Estefan, LL COOL J, Norman Lear, Lionel Richie.

Not white enough for them?

Seems though that Carmen de Lavallade will not be attending.

[Miles Archer]

11. Lionel's keeping his options open too

It was part of a story I posted yesterday about Ms. de Lavallade. He's currently in the "mulling over his options" column.

Ms. Estefan wanted to talk to Trump about the value of immigrants in our society, and now that Trump's not coming, that won't happen.

[babylonsister]

13. I've read Gloria Estefan, Norman Lear, and

Lionel Ritchie have all declined to attend, so far. THAT is why he's not going, I suspect.

[LudwigPastorius]

42. Bingo!

It's another one of those petty "You can't fire me, I fire YOU" Trump moves.

[Hortensis]

14. Three of the 5 threatened to BOYCOTT, 1 planned to

speak out against racism, and 1 hadn't said what he would do.

Imo, Rump is far too self-involved to have passion left over for intense racism. His great passions are all devoted to himself. Bigoted yes, but never to the point of turning down a chance to parade himself in public and in front of cameras.

[bitterross]

51. I think you hit on something.

From Trumps standpoint it is "a Jew, a bunch of 'darkies' and a Latina."

None of them could get into Mar a Lago unless they were part of the hired help. Trump certainly didn't want to hang out with them or, least of all, honor them.

I think he's probably very happy to have found an excuse to bail out on the awards.

[Princess Turandot]

6. This is his 'you didn't quit, I fired you' schtick...

Plus, those damn liberal arts aficionados would probably have booed him.

Next he'll blame the honorees via twitter for 'politicizing' the event.

[Scarsdale]

25. Maybe is they combined this

with a Miss Teen USA pageant, he would reconsider? After all, beauty pageants are the longest performances he has ever sat through, aren't they? Maybe first lady Ivanka could go in his place, since she seems to be his stand in for other occasions.

[videohead5]

8. Watch President Obama

Wipe a tear from his eye.

[raven mad]

23. I still have this on disk -

what a GREAT honors show that was!

[3catwoman3]

35. A complete delight.

Such fun to see King get so excited seeing her own works performes by others.

I did not know Franklin could play the piano.

[7wo7rees]

40. Really?

[3catwoman3]

43. I have typically only listened...

...to audio, not watched full performances, so yes, to my embarrassment, I did not know. I'm glad I know now.

[riversedge]

10. tweet: lol because no one wants to attend the WH reception.....

Greytdog? @Greytdog 17m17 minutes ago

Greytdog Retweeted Jake Tapper

lol because no one wants to attend the WH reception

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[riversedge]

12. His budget aims to defund NEA remember #savenea #TrumpHatesAmericaCulture

((Nelson Jacobsen))? @sonofnels 37m37 minutes ago
Replying to @jaketapper

His budget aims to defund NEA remember #savenea #TrumpHatesAmericaCulture

Link to tweet

[Qutzupalotl]

15. As if he'll still be president in December.

[Danmel]

16. He is a vulgarian-he couldn't possibly understand the arts

A "billionaire" who lives in Manhattan, one of the artistic and cultural capitals of the world. We are subscribers to the Great Performers at Lincoln Center and have attended concerts at Carnegie Hall as well, along with sitting on the board of directors of a not for profit youth orchestra.
I have checked the donor list in every program.
Almost every large corporation, financial institution, and charitable trust in New York donates large sums of money for the arts. But not the Trumps.
No Donald J., No Eric, No Junior, No Ivanka or Jared or Kushners to be found.
His presence isn't just a distraction, it is an insult.

[sandensea]

18. The words Trump and Kennedy Performing Arts Center should never be in the same sentence.

They go together like orange socks and a tuxedo.

[BigmanPigman]

36. He is the most greedy and selfish PINO that we have ever had. Not only does he never donate a

single cent but never has volunteered his services for a good cause or in public service. Shit, he even steals from charities! NO MORALS!

[Sunlei]

17. Best for security & safety of everyone if the lightening rod stays away. He can send video comments.

The Republicans president does better anyway on video, can do makeup & re-takes until he gets his lines right.

[lostnfound]

19. Good move.

I believe it's the first thing he has done (or not done) of which I've approved.

[keithbvadu2]

20. Coward!

[onetexan]

21. Good riddance, they weren't wanted anyway

The event organizers will just need to arrange another facility for the dinner
The tweeter of this quote sums it up well: "A person with no honor can't honor others. He is a disgrace."

[dalton99a]

22. Nazi snowflakes

[Scarsdale]

26. As if!

A tRump entering a building with the name Kennedy on it! It might just as well be named Clinton, since tRump has no regard for anything democratic. He likely has plans to put TRUMP in oversized gold letters on the front of the building.

[steve2470]

58. yep, NaziPOTUS can't stand the blowback he'd get nt

[catbyte]

27. Goddamned coward. His pathetically fragile ego can't take any criticism, ever.

I'll bet it'll get to the point where he'll reuse to face anybody except his cult where they worship him. He's so sick that he needs his horrid little Nuremberg-Lite "campaign rallies" in order to delude himself into thinking he's universally loved & adored. He really is a lost, pathetic, desperate, tiny little man.

[3catwoman3]

30. "Political distraction."

That's a nifty little euphemism.

[bluedigger]

31. Pariah In Chief

[pangaia]

32. Didn't want to be a political distraction.. Ho Ho Ho !

Like people shouting out. "Fuck you asshole!"



On a side note, I once played in a 'back-up band' for Gloria Estefan. Many years ago.. Don't laugh, but at the time I really didn't know how big a deal she was. In fact I didn't even know what she looked like.

Before the rehearsal I happened to sit down next to her in the auditorium. How? I forget. I did not know who I was sitting next to. We chatted a bit. No biggie. I thought maybe she was in the band as we were all just local free-lancers. That was it. Then after we set up on stage she walks up and.... holy mackerel !!

[flibbitygiblets]

33. another classic "I break up with you first" move

To avoid humiliation of a boycott.

Thanks for not stinking up at least one thing, thin skinned loser! Now please do the same with the white house.

[Blue Idaho]

34. I don't think the 2 minute man can sit in one place that long.

Let's face it - the guy is sick. It would be like trying to take a five year old to church. He'd be running up and down the isles and throwing tantrums from start to finish.

[KG]

38. it's not about him, so he doesn't care.

[meadowlander]

44. This.

:Sigh:

[Siwsan]

39. Is this a first?

I can't ever remember this situation happening, before, but I'm getting old and forgetful.

[JDC]

41. What an utter embarrassment he is to America

Pathetic

Good for those attending

[PSPS]

45. Where's the childish tweet tantrum about "losers" "failing" and, of course, "ratings"?

[lapfog_1]

47. the most polarizing and hated person in american political history

[SCVDem]

48. Want to see everyone attend with SRO?

Sitting in for the fake pResident and wife, we are proud to have:

Barack and Michelle Obama !

Dignity AND the honorees and audience return, life is good for a while.

What do you think?

[Initech]

52. That might actually be the most presidential decision he's made so far.

[Lint Head]

53. Yes! Stay away you bigoted, racist, xenophobic, Vladimir Putin

the murderer ass kisser. You should be in jail honoring the law.

[LakeArenal]

55. Chicken Shit Trump.

No offense to chickens or their shit.

[MFM008]

56. What a YUGE coward

His running from critics or dissenters is mind blowing.