President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania attended a performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, joined by Vice President JD Vance and his wife. The visit stirred controversy due to planned protests from some cast members and recent leadership changes at the Center. When asked about the actors’ boycott, Trump dismissed the concerns, saying, “I couldn’t care less, all I do is run the country well.”
This was Trump’s first visit since appointing himself chairman of the Kennedy Center in February. He also installed Richard Grenell as executive director after removing several board members. Trump claimed previous leadership had allowed inappropriate programming, including drag shows aimed at children, and promised to return the venue to “traditional” values with planned renovations.
The shift in leadership and programming led to backlash. High-profile figures like Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds severed ties with the Center, and LGBTQ-themed events, including Pride Month programming and the children’s musical Finn, were canceled or relocated. In protest, several drag performers disrupted Wednesday’s show, drawing mixed reactions from the audience.
Despite the uproar, Trump praised Grenell and shared memories of attending Cats as his first theater show. When asked if he related more to Javert or Jean Valjean, he deflected the question to Melania, who declined to comment. The event highlighted deep cultural divides and ongoing tensions over the Kennedy Center’s direction under Trump’s control.
