President Obama to address nation Sunday on terror threat, cancels Kennedy Center Honors appearance

President Obama will speak to the nation from the Oval Office Sunday night to address the threat of terrorism in the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif.

Obama has canceled his planned appearance at Sunday's Kennedy Center Honors evening ceremony, an annual ritual for presidents for nearly 40 years. Obama will still address the Kennedy Center Honors reception event at the White House at around 5 p.m. ET.

Obama's address to the nation will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET. It's likely that the speech will be carried by the four major broadcast networks although that could not immediately be confirmed.

According to a statement from the White House, the president "will provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the tragic attack in San Bernardino. He will also discuss the broader threat of terrorism -- including the nature of the threat, how it has evolved, and how we will defeat it."

In addition, "He will reiterate his firm conviction that ISIL will be destroyed and that the United States must draw upon our values -- our unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and freedom -- to prevail over terrorist groups that use violence to advance a destructive ideology.

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