Donald Trump has reportedly awarded country icons Toby Keith and Ricky Skaggs with the National Medal of the Arts.
NBC News chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander tweeted the news on Wednesday that the awards were being given to the artists at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
I’m now told this award ceremony happened in the East Room.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) January 13, 2021
Keith’s rep told ET Canada that he has no comment at this time. Meanwhile, Skaggs’ rep confirmed that he was at the White House to receive the medal.
“Ricky was originally slated to receive the award in early 2020 but the presentation was delayed due to COVID-19,” Skaggs’ rep said.
On Twitter, many people reacted to the news of the country artists being given an award by Trump, reportedly around the same time as the U.S. president was being impeached for a second time.
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Some pointed to New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick recently turning down an award from Trump.
Bill Belichick takes the moral high ground over Toby Keith lololol I want to move to outer space https://t.co/xBF8EocLII
— Marissa R. Moss (@MarissaRMoss) January 13, 2021
Under the radar today, as part of his "let's give the nation's highest honors to the worst people in the country" initiative, Trump gave the National Medal of Arts to Toby Keith. Which begs only one response… pic.twitter.com/nQTCp39o81
— Jon Cummings (@jonfromcali) January 14, 2021
Congratulations Toby Keith; Ricky Skaggs, we expected better pic.twitter.com/3p7FuJ23b6
— Layne (@layne) January 14, 2021
Ricky Skaggs and Toby Keith visited the White House yesterday, so I am burning my copies of their albums in protest.
Ha ha, just kidding, of course I don’t own any.
— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) January 14, 2021
So Trump's latest Medal of Freedom recipient was singer Toby Keith. Why pray tell is Toby worthy of that Medal? I guess next we can expect Trump to award the Medal of Freedom to Kim Kardashian.
— Richard Caslon (@CaslonRichard) January 14, 2021
Giving Toby Keith an award while getting a boot in the ass. Poetry. https://t.co/9nDo4PLDxD
— Matt Scalici (@MattScalici) January 13, 2021
