Image by Jerod Harris/Getty Images

By Josh Nathan-Kazis November 28, 2017

Television legend Norman Lear told the Washington Post this week that he’s happy that his threat to boycott White House events during the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors led to President Trump backing out of attending the ceremonies.

“I’m glad [the Trumps] backed out, because the emptiness of that place America is used to seeing, with those of us being honored together with the president — that emptiness will make a bigger statement,” Lear, 95, told the Post.

Lear, creator of “All in the Family” and “One Day at a Time,” among other classic 1970’s television programs, is set to receive the Kennedy Center Honors on December 3. Back in August, he said that he would boycott any portions of the event in which Trump participated.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“I will not go to this man’s White House,” he told the Post.

In response, the White House announced that Trump would break with the practice of previous presidents, and not take part in the Kennedy Center Honors.

“I will not go to my White House so long as this man is president,” Lear said.

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. We’ve started our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we need 1,800 readers like you to step up to support the Forward by April 21. Members of the Forward board are even matching the first 1,000 gifts, up to $70,000.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism, because every dollar goes twice as far.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make your Passover gift today!

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount