Drama erupts as Donald Trump attends Les Miserables
Drama unfolded at the Kennedy Center on June 11—but it wasn’t just on stage. Former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a performance of Les Misérables, setting off a whirlwind of controversy both inside and outside the theater.
Just days shy of his 79th birthday, Trump arrived at the venue for what he called one of his favorite musicals. “I’ve seen it many times,” he said, according to Reuters. “It’s one of my favorites.” He also took the opportunity to praise his administration’s efforts to “revive” the Kennedy Center, saying, “It was not properly taken care of, and we’re going to turn it back into something great.”
This marked Trump’s first return to the Kennedy Center since he purged much of its leadership and promised to eliminate what he called “woke” content. Back in February, he posted on Truth Social, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA.”
But Trump’s presence at the performance didn’t go unchallenged. According to CNN, several cast members of Les Misérables staged a quiet protest by boycotting the show altogether. Lead actors and ensemble members reportedly chose to sit the night out, a gesture that made headlines before the curtain even rose.
Adding to the protest, a number of Trump critics donated their tickets to drag performers. One of them, Tara Hoot, told NPR, “We wanted to support the cast and draw attention to the drag ban by showing up and being fabulous. It was protest by presence.”
The queens were welcomed with applause as they took their seats, but the real uproar came during intermission. As the lights came up at the end of Act I, Trump stood in his box and immediately drew loud reactions from the crowd—not all of them friendly.
A woman in the orchestra section shouted, “Felon, you’re a convicted felon!” Her voice cut through the murmur of the audience, followed by, “Convicted felon, rapist!” Security moved in quickly and escorted her out. Seconds later, another voice yelled, “F**k Trump!” which sparked wild applause and cheers throughout the room.
Supporters responded with chants of “We love you!” and “U.S.A.!”, while a chorus of boos followed. In true rally mode, Trump pumped his fist three times, echoing the same gesture he made after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last year.
Clips of the moment quickly went viral, with many pointing out the irony of Trump watching a musical about revolution and resistance while simultaneously deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles to suppress anti-deportation protests.
California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on X with a dig: “Someone explain the plot to him,” sharing a headline that read, “Trump attends Les Misérables premiere as protests persist across the country.”
Social media exploded with commentary. “I swear I am not making this up,” one user posted. “Trump watching Les Misérables, a show about a mass uprising against a tyrant… The satire writes itself.” Another added, “More boos than cheers. Wait until he figures out the plot.”
Not everyone was laughing. Supporters defended Trump’s appearance, while critics called the crowd’s reaction “absolutely embarrassing—for him.” One user wrote, “A lot of people hate Trump. MAGA needs to deal with that reality.” Another bluntly added, “Should’ve been all boos.”
Trump’s appearance may have been meant to show strength and cultural relevance, but for many, it became a symbol of tone-deaf politics clashing with the very themes of the show he came to enjoy.