President Trump and first lady Melania Trump are skipping out on the annual Kennedy Center Honors gala for the second year in a row.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, said Tuesday that the couple is not planning to attend the Dec. 2 fundraiser “at this time,” the Washington Post reported.
Last year, the couple announced in August that they would not be going to the gala after several of those receiving achievements said they would not attend a White House reception hosted by Trump.
The event this year will salute the lifetime achievements of singers and actresses Cher and Reba McEntire, composer Philip Glass, jazz musician Wayne Shorter, and the creative team of the musical “Hamilton.”
Two of the recipients, Cher and “Hamilton” playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, have been critical of the Trump administration.
The Kennedy Center committee selects honorees from nominations by the public and past winners. Although the president has no say in those considered for the awards, they have hosted pre-performance receptions at the White House and would sit with the winners during the gala.
Until Trump, every president since 1978 has attended the gala, only skipping out in the event of crisis or international scheduling conflicts. In that case, the first lady would stand-in as the host.
