President Donald Trump made a bold entrance at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night, joined by First Lady Melania Trump. When asked about some Les Misérables cast members boycotting his visit, Trump didn’t hold back.
“I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,” he said. “All I do is run the country well.”
Before the performance, there were reports that the show would feature understudies instead of the main cast, and that drag queens might try to disrupt the night. A few were spotted nearby, gathered just a block from the Kennedy Center as Trump’s motorcade rolled in.
Inside the theater, the audience was split—some welcomed the Trumps with cheers, applause, and chants of “USA,” while others responded with boos.
This appearance comes after a controversial move by Trump just 19 days into his second term—he fired the Kennedy Center’s board and named himself chairman, taking over the iconic venue named after former Democratic President John F. Kennedy.
Trump appointed Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as interim head of the Kennedy Center. Trump praised his work so far, noting the upcoming season features big musicals like Les Misérables, Chicago, and Back to the Future.
But the changes haven’t gone over well with everyone. Stars like Ben Folds, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae cut ties with the center. Several LGBTQ events, including a Pride performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus and the musical Finn, were canceled.
On opening night, a group of drag queens protested and were met with applause inside the theater.
“The new era here is going to be something,” Trump said on the red carpet.
At a recent dinner with the new Kennedy Center board—including Pam Bondi, Susie Wiles, and singer Lee Greenwood—Trump joked about disliking the building’s modern wing. “It’s the last time I take a job without looking at it,” he said.
On the red carpet, Trump shared that the first play he ever saw was Cats, while Melania said hers was Phantom of the Opera. She also told the Daily Mail that she’s a big Les Misérables fan.
Trump said he’s seen Les Misérables several times and called it “fantastic.” When asked if he relates more to Javert or Valjean, he laughed and dodged the question, joking, “You better answer that one, honey.” Melania stayed quiet.
