President Donald Trump entered the Kennedy Center Wednesday night with first lady Melania Trump at his side and struck a defiant tone when asked about cast members from Les Miserables boycotting his appearance.
‘I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,’ said Trump. ‘All I do is run the country well.’
There were reports ahead of Wednesday night’s opener that the Trumps, along with Vice President J.D. Vance and wife Usha, would see the storied musical performed by some 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.’
There had also been threats that drag queens could interrupt and heckle the president during the performance. Several drag queens were gathered a block away from the Kennedy Center as the presidential motorcade drove by.
When the Trumps did enter the theater, there were cheers and applause and a USA chant – and also some boos.
The president took over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in February in an unprecedented way.
Just 19 days into his second term, Trump announced that he would be firing the board of the Kennedy Center – named for the late Democratic president – and naming himself chairman.
President Donald Trump (left) walking the red carpet with first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night. He struck a defiant tone when asked about some of Les Miserables’ cast member boycotting his appearance
President Donald Trump (left) walking the red carpet with first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night for the opening night performance of Les Miserables
Trump ally, GOP Rep. Jim Jordan (center right) and his wife Polly (right) walk past drag queens (from left) Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosa, Vagenesis and Maria Con Carne who were gathered outside the Kennedy Center as President Donald Trump’s motorcade rolled by
Since then, he’s made Richard Grenell, who served as the acting Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term, interim Kennedy Center executive director. Grenell also serves as a envoy for special missions.
Trump applauded Grenell’s tenure thus far – with the 2025–2026 season heavily featuring musicals including Les Miserables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Back to the Future: The Musical.
A number of artists and celebrities who had been associated with the Kennedy Center cut ties, including singer and piano player Ben Folds, Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and Insecure star Issa Rae.
A number of LGBTQ programs were moved away from the Kennedy Center, including events associated with this month’s WorldPride.
Additionally a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. for Pride Month was cancelled by the Kennedy Center.
The children’s musical Finn, which deals with LGBTQ themes, was also nixed.
Those changes prompted a handful of drag queens to protest Wednesday night – earning applause as they settled into their seats inside the theater.
Drag queen Tara Hoot posted a picture from within the Kennedy Center auditorium, noting that she and other drag artists had received applause when they entered
Melania Trump (right) poses alongside her husband President Donald Trump (left) on the red carpet. The president said the first theater production he want to see was ‘Cats’ while the first lady said hers was ‘Phantom of the Opera’
First lady Melania Trump wore a pair of shoes featuring mixed metallics along with a black gown to the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Second lady Usha Vance (left) and her husband, Vice President J.D. Vance (right) arrive at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night for the opener of Les Miserables
Actress Cheryl Hines (left) and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) walk the red carpet at the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center
‘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.’
During a dinner last month with the new Kennedy Center board members – which now include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and singer Lee Greenwood – Trump went off about the look of the Kennedy Center’s modern addition.
‘It’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it,’ the president cracked.
While walking on the red carpet, Trump – a native New Yorker – was asked what play he first saw in a theater.
‘Well a long time ago, I would say maybe it was Cats,’ the president answered.
Melania Trump answered that her first show was, ‘Phantom of the Opera.’
Mrs. Trump told the Daily Mail she was a Les Mis fan.
President Donald Trump (left) holds onto first lady Melania Trump’s (right) hand as they exit the White House and travel to the Kennedy Center Wednesday night
President Donald Trump (left) escorting first lady Melania Trump (right) outside of the White House as they set out for the Kennedy Center
Drag queens Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk to the Kennedy Center ahead of Wednesday night’s programming attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance
Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk the steps of the Kennedy Center as they protested President Donald Trump’s appearance at the performing arts venue on Wednesday, the opening night of Les Miserables
‘I am, thank you.’
The president also said he’s seen the French Revolution-era musical on multiple occasions.
‘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.
But when a reporter asked the president whether he felt more in line with Inspector Javert or the former convict Jean Valjean, he seemed miffed.
‘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 didn’t say.