Trump sends a harsh message to actors who skipped his Kennedy Center visit, while he and Melania attend Les Miserables

President Donald Trump arrived at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday evening, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump. When asked about the cast members of Les Miserables boycotting his presence, he maintained a defiant attitude.

‘I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,’ said Trump. ‘All I do is run the country well.’ 

Leading up to the opening night on Wednesday, there were speculations that the Trumps, along with Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha, would attend the well-known musical performed by some of the understudies.

Additionally, there were threats that drag queens could interrupt and heckle the president during the performance. 

Several drag queens were gathered a block away from the Kennedy Center as the presidential motorcade drove by. 

When the Trumps did enter the theater, there were cheers and applause and a USA chant – and also some boos.   

The president took over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in February in an unprecedented way. 

Just 19 days into his second term, Trump made an announcement that he was going to dismiss the board of the Kennedy Center, which is named after the late Democratic president, and appoint himself as the chairman.

President Donald Trump (left) walking the red carpet with first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night. He struck a defiant tone when asked about some of Les Miserables’ cast member boycotting his appearance

President Donald Trump (left) walking the red carpet with first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night for the opening night performance of Les Miserables 

Since then, he’s made Richard Grenell, who served as the acting Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term, interim Kennedy Center executive director. Grenell also serves as a envoy for special missions. 

Trump applauded Grenell’s tenure thus far – with the 2025–2026 season heavily featuring musicals including Les Miserables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Back to the Future: The Musical. 

A number of artists and celebrities who had been associated with the Kennedy Center cut ties, including singer and piano player Ben Folds, Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and Insecure star Issa Rae. 

‘The new era here is going to be something,’ Trump said on the red carpet, as Grenell stood at the top. ‘The bones of this facility are really incredible, we’re going to make it really great.’ 

During a dinner last month with the new Kennedy Center board members – which now include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and singer Lee Greenwood –  Trump went off about the look of the Kennedy Center’s modern addition. 

‘It’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it,’ the president cracked. 

While walking on the red carpet, Trump – a native New Yorker – was asked what play he first saw in a theater. 

‘Well a long time ago, I would say maybe it was Cats,’ the president answered. 

Melania Trump answered that her first show was, ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ 

Mrs. Trump told the Daily Mail she was a Les Mis fan. 

Melania Trump (right) poses alongside her husband President Donald Trump (left) on the red carpet. The president said the first theater production he want to see was ‘Cats’ while the first lady said hers was ‘Phantom of the Opera’ 

First lady Melania Trump wore a pair of shoes featuring mixed metallics along with a black gown to the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 

President Donald Trump (left) holds onto first lady Melania Trump’s (right) hand as they exit the White House and travel to the Kennedy Center Wednesday night

‘I am, thank you.’ 

The president also said he’s seen the French Revolution-era musical on multiple occasions.  

‘I’ve seen it, we’ve seen it, a number of times, it’s fantastic. It was just about our first choice. That’s what we got and we’ve got other ones coming, other great ones coming,’ Trump said.  

But when a reporter asked the president whether he felt more in line with Inspector Javert or the former convict Jean Valjean, he seemed miffed. 

‘Oh that’s a tough one, the last part of that question, that’s tough I think,’ Trump said laughing. ‘You better answer that one honey, I don’t know.’

Melania Trump didn’t say.