President Trump, First Lady to Skip Kennedy Center Honors Amid Boycotts

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will skip this year’s Kennedy Center Honors after two of this year’s five honorees announced plans to boycott the ceremony and traditional White House reception.

“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,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement released Saturday morning.

“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,” she added.