Trumps to skip Kennedy Center Honors again rather than face very vocal critics

[babylonsister]

Trumps to skip Kennedy Center Honors again rather than face very vocal critics
Lin-Manuel Miranda said Trump was "going straight to hell." Cher compared him to Hitler. Any surprise that Trump isn't planning to cheer them on in December?
Jessica M. Goldstein
Nov 13, 2018, 4:37 pm


Since descending that escalator and ascending to the Oval Office, President Trump has broken with traditions literally more times than the average citizen can say, “wait, what?” For this and so many reasons, it is not all that surprising that Donald and Melania Trump are skipping the Kennedy Center Honors for the second year in a row.

Though the president and first lady typically attend the Honors, they are only hosts of a ceremonial sort: They do not have a hand in selecting the year’s five honorees. But they’re almost always there, barring some international catastrophe — the hostage crisis kept Jimmy Carter from attending in 1979 — or travel (George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton missed due to European trips in 1989 and 1994, respectively). Save for these absences, plus a late arrival by Obama in 2015, “every president has attended since 1978,” the Washington Post reports.

But not the Trumps. Per the Post:

Melania Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said Tuesday that “at this time” the couple are not planning to attend the annual fundraiser. The 2018 Honors will salute the lifetime achievements of four artists — composer Philip Glass, singer-actresses Cher and Reba McEntire, and jazz musician Wayne Shorter — as well as the creative team behind the groundbreaking musical Hamilton.

The 2018 honorees, who will be feted on December 2, were announced back in July. As soon as the names came out, speculation began about how exactly President Trump would clap politely while sitting beside a phalanx of performers who have expressed their disgust with him in caps-locked clarity.

After Trump reamed out San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz for accurately describing the devastation Hurricane Maria brought to Puerto Rico and imploring the president to send much-needed federal assistance, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted that Trump was “going straight to hell.”

more...

https://thinkprogress.org/faced-with-prospect-of-applauding-very-vocal-critics-trumps-will-skip-kennedy-center-honors-again-9977294594dd/?fbclid=IwAR2XpoTJmAEWFY-nb5HDg8rfiwgXHxA-At0X37YITU0VtMjYuisLP3qUrHo

[dawg day]

1. Sigh. Will we ever forget Aretha singing "Natural Woman" to Carole King-

in front of the Obamas?

Watch for The Queen to drop her fur coat-- so royal AND sexy!

[dawg day]

6. And Obama wiping a tear away, and Michelle in the best blue gown....

Miss them all!

[The Genealogist]

11. That is one fantastic clip

I've seen it several times now, and it seems more powerful at each watching.

[central scrutinizer]

13. Made me cry - thanks for posting

Tears of joy for the beauty of that and tears of rage at how far we've fallen

[riversedge]

28. Oh, that was so lovely. And yes, I will never forget it. But back to the Trumps-they have never

been appreciative of the arts--whether it be singers, artists or whatever--Broadway. Really, the only art that the Trump family knows is how to make money.

[smirkymonkey]

33. They are such uncultivated boors.

Have they ever set foot in a museum or a theater just for the pleasure of enjoying art? I doubt it very much.

[panader0]

30. Thanks for posting this.

[SunSeeker]

2. Trump is a coward. He is not a leader. nt

[hlthe2b]

3. the best gift that the Trump's can give the awardees... n/t

[sdfernando]

9. Exactly! Their absence is the best thing anyone could ask for! /nt

[Siwsan]

4. I wish they'd invite Presidents Carter, both Bushes, President Clinton and President Obama

Have them sit in the balcony, in places of honor. I realize that Papa Bush is likely a no-go, but with the rest there, respect will be paid to the artists.

[NCjack]

5. The Orange Menace is ready to resign. nt

[oasis]

7. Y'all stop bullying the prez!

[Cha]

8. RUN & HIDE.. you Stupid Pieces

of SHITE.

[SummerSnow]

10. He is incapable of honoring anyone.If he isn't the one being honored he won't bother.

Nothing in it for him.

[milestogo]

12. So is he going to hide under his bed for the rest of his life?

[llmart]

14. I rarely miss watching it...

so I'm glad the two deplorables aren't going to be there. Besides, can you imagine Cher keeping her mouth shut if she had to be in the same room as him? And then there's the fact that he'd have to pretend to clap his tiny hands for a dark-skinned person.

The two of them have zero culture anyway.

[TlalocW]

15. And I bet this eats at him and Melania

Trump used to love hanging out with celebrities and getting face-time at affairs like this, and I bet Melania enjoyed dressing up and going to fancy parties. Now that they've become the most hated people in the sane world, I'm sure they're bitter at having the same two choices: stay hidden or hobnob with the likes of Ted Nugent... again.

TlalocW

[underpants]

19. Yeah I read that about him during the campaign

He adored being around celebs and anyone rich and famous. He really hates poor people. It was reported several times that he hates not hobknobbing with Hollywood and she feels like prisoner in their apartment and in the White House.

[TlalocW]

21. And he's not going to be able to return to that life

He was tolerated before even though he was crass and classless because he gave good parties, but now even the most apolitical celebrity will know not to be seen with him if they want to stay popular.

I've noticed that unlike democratic presidents who take a short vacation then move on to the next project in their life - normally something that helps a segment of society, which keeps them in the news, etc. republicans tend to almost outright retire and disappear from the public eye. I wonder how much of it is their doing and how much of it is the party. They say democrats fall in love with their candidates, but republicans fall in line so after a republican's term is up, the party doesn't have any more use for them, and especially if they were perceived as unsuccessful like both Bushes, their treatment of their former presidents run from ignoring them to almost outright shunning.

Donald isn't the retiring type - especially when it comes to being in the public eye. So it will be interesting to see how the rest of the party treats him once he's out of office.

TlalocW

[underpants]

24. Great observation - fall in love v. fall in line

[TlalocW]

25. Wish I had come up with it

I heard it during the election coverage.

TlalocW

[FloridaBlues]

16. Good to know he isn't attending this year again !

It will make viewing this event more enjoyable.

[3catwoman3]

17. He'd probably be bored out of his tiny little mind and...

...be restless and want to leave after 15 minutes. It won’t be about him.

[dem4decades]

29. Maybe the could hire a Putin impersonator to cheer him up.

[onecaliberal]

18. I'm glad they're not attending. Their vile has not tainted these honors.

[underpants]

20. Does he show up for anything anymore? Just a few steps from Howard Hughes territory

I've said that several times here on DU. You could see it coming. He and Melania are shut off from the parties and celebs and they hate it. Now she's apparently calling some of the personnel moves.

[babylonsister]

22. He ain't right, at all. When does the gop admit that wholeheartedly?

They're just as dangerous.

[pansypoo53219]

23. the moron is not a part-time president, he is a half-assed president.

[RockRaven]

26. This same ultra-brave hero Trump who would run into an active shooting scenario even when unarmed?

This is the guy who's afraid of some artists and musicians not praising him ardently?

[LisaM]

27. He doesn't have the attention span to sit for it.

With both Presidents Clinton and Obama, their evident enjoyment and appreciation of the artists really made it fun to watch. Even the Bushes (especially George HW) seemed to like it.

Even if the audience was circumspect and left him alone, I simply can't see Trump sitting still without fidgeting and getting restive. Have you ever heard him quote an author, or say he liked a movie or play? Does he seem to have any music that he likes?

[vlyons]

31. Money don't buy class

Correct me if I'm wrong, but has Trump invited ANY artists to the WH? I don't think has invited any musicians, poet readings, theatrical performances.

[spanone]

32. the trumps have no interest in the arts. zero

[UTUSN]

34. A president who can't perform routine duties, can't show his face