WASHINGTON, Nov 22, 2019 (BSS/Xinhua) – U.S. President Donald Trump
presented the National Medal of Arts to several recipients during a ceremony
at the White House on Thursday afternoon.
The recipients include Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, country-bluegrass
musician Alison Krauss, philanthropist Sharon Percy Rockefeller and the
musicians of the U.S. military.
Trump also awarded the National Humanities Medal to three individuals and
a think tank.
It was the first time Trump has awarded the medals since he took office in
January 2017.
First lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary
Steven Mnuchin, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley were among
those attending the East Room ceremony.
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts
patrons by the federal government of the United States, according to the
National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency of the U.S.
government.