Trump attends opening of Les Misérables amid protests from cast

In the United States, President Donald Trump made his first appearance at a Kennedy Center performance on June 11, 2025, attending the opening night of the acclaimed musical Les Misérables. This significant event followed his controversial takeover of the Kennedy Center, where he replaced longstanding leadership with loyalists and assumed the position of chairman. Trump's actions ignited backlash from artists and performers, leading to a considerable decline in ticket sales and several planned performances being canceled, including by highly watched shows like Hamilton. Despite the uproar around his leadership changes, Trump expressed his enthusiasm for the production, stating his admiration for the musical and even suggesting the possibility of extending its run. However, his attendance was marked by notable boycotts from members of the cast, with reports indicating that up to a dozen performers opted out of the show in disapproval of the president's presence. This led to understudies possibly stepping into leading roles, adding to the drama surrounding the performance. The Kennedy Center has historically served as an apolitical venue for the arts, but under Trump's direction, it has faced increasing scrutiny for aligning more closely with his political ideologies. His administration's budget proposals aimed at funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts have further escalated tensions between the center and the artistic community. The venue, which has operated since 1971, found itself in an unprecedented situation where its board members and key performers were replaced or resigned in protest of the new direction imposed by the Trump administration. Trump's attendance at Les Misérables is not merely a ceremonial engagement; it reflects a broader conflict between traditional arts programming and the current administration's perceived