On Wednesday, June 11, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted with a cacophony of both jeers and cheers as they graced the Kennedy Center for the opening night performance of the renowned musical, "Les Misérables." As captured in videos circulating on X, their exit from the venue was met with a tapestry of mixed emotions. Vice President J.D. Vance and his spouse, Usha Chilukuri Vance, were also present among the audience, having previously faced a chorus of boos in March when they attempted to take their seats in the Kennedy Center balcony to witness the National Symphony Orchestra.
The evening's rendition of "Les Mis" promised a lineup somewhat divergent from the usual cast that Kennedy Center patrons would witness throughout the month-long run of the show. On May 7, CNN revealed that at least ten out of the twelve actors in the musical had no intention of performing on the night designated for the Trumps' attendance. Sources privy to the matter disclosed that cast members were afforded the choice to opt out of the performance, with several ensemble and leading actors exercising this option.
This act of protest stemmed from the President's recent actions upon assuming the chairmanship of the Kennedy Center just days into his second term. He swiftly overhauled the so-called "woke" leadership, replacing them with a new board comprising conservative supporters.
He also designated Richard Grenell, a key figure in his administration, to serve as both President and Interim Director of the Center. When the protest was made public, Grenell issued a statement, asserting, "The Kennedy Center will no longer sponsor intolerance. Any performer who lacks the professionalism to entertain patrons from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their political leanings, will not be welcomed here." He further elaborated, "Indeed, it is crucial to expose these hollow and intolerant artists, so producers are aware of those they should avoid hiring, and the public knows which performances subject their audiences to political litmus tests. The Kennedy Center aspires to be a sanctuary where individuals of all political persuasions sit side by side, never inquiring about one another's voting preferences, but rather enjoying performances together in harmony."
President Trump has previously demonstrated his avid fandom for "Les Misérables." In February, the U.S. Army Chorus belted out the musical's protest anthem, "Do You Hear the People Sing?," at the 2025 White House Governors Ball. He even incorporated this song into his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024, with The Guardian reporting in 2022 that the politician unconventionally blasted the tune prior to announcing his 2024 candidacy. Many find it peculiar that the president holds this song in high regard, given that its lyrics emanate from the perspective of French revolutionaries rising up against a oppressive and corrupt ruling class.
The lyrics resonate with power: "Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again!" Following Trump's use of the song in 2016, producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh and the co-creators of "Les Misérables" issued a joint statement expressing their disapproval of him leveraging the musical to advance his political agenda.
They wrote, as reported by The Guardian, "The authors of 'Les Misérables' were neither consulted for permission nor did they authorize or endorse the use of 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' at last week's Trump rally in Miami, nor have they ever done so for any of the songs from the musical for this or any other political event." Mackintosh's statement continued, "As the musical's popularity and universal message have become an integral part of international popular culture for over three decades, numerous political and social movements worldwide, including the initial campaigns of Bill Clinton and Obama, have independently adopted songs from the musical as a battle cry for their respective causes."
