“One hopes that President Trump’s decision to forgo this year’s honors is a solitary event,” he said. Donors who contribute more than $10,000 a year to the Kennedy Center are given access to advanced sales. The event typically raises about $7 million for the Kennedy Center, which has an annual operating budget of $230 million. As the furor that erupted after Charlottesville grew, she said, the White House began to indicate that it was re-evaluating its plans to attend this year’s gala. The White House referred questions about the Kennedy Center to Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director, who declined further comment.

Source: New York Times August 27, 2017 17:03 UTC