President Donald Trump’s attendance of a Les Miserables saw him receive both boos and cheers at times but mostly went off without a hitch.
Despite rumblings of a protest or other significant resistance to Trump’s appearance, none materialized at the president’s favorite play. Cast members planned to protest his attendance, but Trump was unfazed.
“I couldn’t care less, honestly — I couldn’t,” Trump told reporters on the red carpet when asked about reports of their protest.
“All I do is run the country well,” Trump continued. “The economic numbers, you saw them today — they’re setting records. We took $88 billion in tariffs in two months, far beyond what anybody expected. There’s no inflation. People are happy. People are wealthy. The country is getting back to strength again.”
Trump installed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center after he was inaugurated in January. Laura Loomer, who was in attendance, said Trump received a warm welcome.
President Trump received a standing ovation and chants of WE LOVE YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP at the Kennedy Center tonight where he is in attendance for Les Misérables with @MELANIATRUMP @JDVance and @SLOTUS.@RichardGrenell pic.twitter.com/WKrr4b9hB3
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) June 12, 2025
Several other administration officials like Vice President JD Vance and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose uncle is the center’s namesake, also attended the play.
“This is a great production tonight,” he told reporters. “We’re going to save the Kennedy Center. We’re going to make it even better. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight.”
“It’s a great honor to be chairman,” he added.
At the show’s intermission, supporters lined up to take photos of Trump. As they took their seats earlier, the crowd booed and cheered with some chants of “USA!”
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A group of drag performers attended the performance, drawing cheers for their protest of Trump’s appearance there.
Trump previously said the center’s leadership was putting on “drag shows specifically targeting our youth” and that he would stop them. He has revamped the center’s activities, leadership, and performances since.