Upon inquiries on why the cast of Les Misrables had boycotted his show, President Donald Trump remained defiant as he made his appearance Wednesday evening at Kennedy Centre with First Lady Melania Trump.
I did not care. I could not say it honestly, said Trump. RUNNING THE COUNTRY IS THE WORK I DO.
Rumors swirled about before the Wednesday night premiere that the Trumps, the vice president J.D. Vance, and his wife Usha would watch the legendary musical in the performance acted out by some understudies.
One of the sources intimate with interim Kennedy Center executive director Richard Grenell disputed that reporting to the Daily Mail: “It was fake news, to begin with, CNN based on all anonymous sources.”
Besides that, prior to the performance, warnings had been issued that the drag queens would heckle and interrupt the president. When the presidential limo drove past the Kennedy Centre, a gang of drag queens had congregated one block ahead.
There was cheering, clapping, and a USA chant as the Trumps finally got into the theatre, but there were also people jeering.
During February, the president made a historical step by inaugurating a takeover of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.
Just 19 days into his second term, Trump stated he would eliminate the board of the Kennedy Centre, named after the late Democratic president, and replace it with him as its head.
Richard Grenell, the acting Director of National Intelligence in Trump first term, is since then the executive director of the Kennedy Centre, hand-picked by him. Grenell is also a special mission envoy.
As the 20252026 season is mostly comprised of musicals, including Chicago, Les Miserables, and Moulin Rouge, Trump heralded the accomplishment so far of Grenell! Back to the Future: The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire and Monty Python Spamalot.
Some of the artists and celebrities who cut ties with the Kennedy centre included stars of insecure, Grey Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and musician and pianist Ben Folds.
Programs connected with this month WorldPride were some of the LGBTQ programs, which were transferred out of the Kennedy Centre.
The Gay Men Chorus of Washington, D.C. also has had a Pride Month show cancelled by the Kennedy Centre.
In addition, the children musical based on the LGBTQ theme Finn was cancelled.
On Wednesday night, some drag queens staged a protest against the changes, with them clapping as they sat on the theatre.
Trump said the new era here will be something, and Grenell was on the top of the red carpet. The dispatching facilities are amazing to the bones of this facility, we are going to make it great.
Last month at a dinner with the new additions to the Kennedy Centre board, including musician Lee Greenwood, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump criticised the looks of the new addition to the Kennedy Centre.
The president, jesting, said, it was the last time that he would take a job without looking at it.
On the red carpet, Trump being a native New Yorker, was asked what play he watched in a theatre the first time.
The president responded, Well, long time ago, I would, maybe, say it was Cats.
As an answer, Melania Trump said that it was first time on stage in the production of the Phantom of the Opera.
Mrs. Trump has confessed to the Daily Mail that she is a fan of Les Mis.
I am, I thank you.
The president has continued by explaining that he also has several times seen this musical during that period in French state history: the French Revolution.
We have seen it, I have seen it, now that it is so many times, it is fantastic. It was pretty much what we wanted. That is what we are doing and we will have other ones, more great ones coming, Trump added.
However, the president looked annoyed when a reporter queried him, whether he associated himself with Inspector Javert more or the ex-convict Jean Valjean.
The last part of that question, that is a tough one, tough I think, said Trump with a laugh. You better tell that one hony, I don t know.
Melania Trump remained quiet.
