President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, where the president expressed a defiant stance in response to a boycott by some members of the cast. When asked about the boycott, Trump said, “I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,” and added, “All I do is run the country well.”
Before the event, reports surfaced suggesting that the Trumps and Vice President J.D. Vance, along with his wife Usha, would be attending the musical, with some understudies performing. However, a source close to interim Kennedy Center executive director Richard Grenell pushed back against those claims, calling them “fake news from CNN.” The source emphasized that these reports were based on anonymous sources.
Protests surrounding Trump’s appearance at the event were also anticipated. As the presidential motorcade passed by the Kennedy Center, a group of drag queens had gathered a block away to protest. Despite these protests, when the Trumps entered the theater, they were met with both cheers and boos, accompanied by a chant of “USA.”
Trump, who took control of the Kennedy Center in February, made headlines when he announced that he would be firing the board and appointing himself as chairman. His appointment of Richard Grenell, former acting Director of National Intelligence, as interim executive director of the Kennedy Center was met with some controversy, as several artists and celebrities, including Ben Folds, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae, severed ties with the institution. Additionally, LGBTQ-themed programs were moved away from the Kennedy Center, and several events, including a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus for Pride Month, were canceled.
During the evening, drag queen Tara Hoot posted a picture from within the Kennedy Center auditorium, noting that she and other drag artists received applause from the audience when they entered. As for the musical, Trump shared that Les Miserables was one of his first choices to see, having attended the production multiple times before.
In a lighthearted moment during the red carpet event, Trump was asked whether he felt more aligned with Inspector Javert or Jean Valjean from the musical. The president, laughing, responded, “That’s a tough one… You better answer that one, honey, I don’t know.” Melania Trump did not provide an answer.
Trump also reflected on the Kennedy Center’s future, expressing his intention to enhance the venue, calling its current infrastructure “incredible.” He praised the center’s upcoming 2025–2026 season, which will feature several popular musicals, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
The event continued amid protests and polarized opinions, but the Trumps seemed resolute in their decision to attend the iconic venue despite the controversy surrounding their presence.
