When asked why the cast of Les Misérables boycotted his performance, President Donald Trump responded defiantly as he entered the Kennedy Centre Wednesday night with First Lady Melania Trump at his side.
“I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,” said Trump. “All I do is run the country well.”
Prior to Wednesday night’s premiere, there were rumours that the Trumps, Vice President J.D. Vance, and his wife Usha would attend the legendary musical performed by a few understudies.
A source close to interim Kennedy Center executive director Richard Grenell pushed back on that reporting to the Daily Mail: “It was a fake news from CNN from the beginning – all anonymous sources.”
Additionally, there had been warnings that the president would be heckled and interrupted by drag queens during the performance. As the presidential limousine passed the Kennedy Centre, a group of drag queens gathered a block away.
There were applause, cheers, and a USA chant when the Trumps finally made their way inside the theatre, but there were also some jeers.
In February, the president made a historic move by taking over the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.
Trump declared that he would remove the board of the Kennedy Centre, which bears the name of the late Democratic president, and appoint himself as its chairman just 19 days into his second administration.
Since then, he has appointed Richard Grenell, the acting Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term, as the executive director of the Kennedy Centre. Grenell also acts as a special mission envoy.
With the 2025–2026 season largely consisting of musicals like Les Misérables, Chicago, and Moulin Rouge, Trump praised Grenell’s stint so far! Back to the Future: The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
Stars of Insecure, Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, and musician and pianist Ben Folds were among the celebrities and artists that severed their links with the Kennedy Centre.
Events related to this month’s WorldPride were among the LGBTQ programs that were relocated from the Kennedy Centre.
The Kennedy Centre also cancelled a Pride Month performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.
Additionally, the LGBTQ-themed children’s musical Finn was dropped.
A few drag queens protested the alterations on Wednesday night, receiving applause as they took their seats in the theatre.
“The new era here is going to be something,” Trump said on the red carpet, as Grenell stood at the top. “The bones of this facility are really incredible, we’re going to make it really great.”
Trump criticised the appearance of the Kennedy Center’s new addition during a dinner last month with the newly appointed Kennedy Centre board members, which now include musician Lee Greenwood, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“It’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it,” the president cracked.
Trump, a native New Yorker, was asked what play he saw in a theatre for the first time while he was on the red carpet.
The president replied, “Well, a long time ago, I would say maybe it was Cats.”
Melania Trump responded that “Phantom of the Opera” was her debut performance.
Mrs. Trump admitted to being a fan of Les Mis to the Daily Mail.
“I am, thank you.”
The president added that he has watched the musical set in the era of the French Revolution several times.
“I’ve seen it, we’ve seen it, a number of times, it’s fantastic. It was just about our first choice. That’s what we got and we’ve got other ones coming, other great ones coming,” Trump said.
However, the president appeared irritated when a reporter asked him if he identified more with Inspector Javert or the ex-convict Jean Valjean.
“Oh that’s a tough one, the last part of that question, that’s tough I think,” Trump said laughing. “You better answer that one honey, I don’t know.”
Melania Trump remained silent.
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