A mix of loud boos and cheers erupted at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night as President Donald Trump arrived to attend a performance of Les Misérables. The visit marked Trump’s first since assuming control of the historic arts institution earlier this year.
According to a video posted on X by Reuters White House Correspondent Jeff Mason, Trump was seen taking his seat in the center of the second-level balcony. As he waved to the audience, the crowd responded with an intense blend of applause and jeers. The reaction quickly shifted to chants of “U.S.A.” as the former president settled in.
The Kennedy Center, once seen as a symbol of bipartisan celebration of the arts, has undergone dramatic leadership changes under Trump. In February, he dismissed the entire board of trustees, including the institution’s long-serving chair. Trump then appointed himself chairman and named Richard Grenell as interim executive director, who was later made president.
The leadership overhaul has stirred widespread controversy, particularly among artists and arts advocates. Trump has pledged to eliminate what he refers to as “woke” programming, targeting events such as drag performances and other progressive-themed productions that were previously part of the Kennedy Center’s diverse offerings.
Several actors from the touring production of Les Misérables reportedly planned to boycott the evening’s performance in protest of Trump’s presence, as well as the attendance of Vice President JD Vance. While the production went on as scheduled, the internal dissent highlighted tensions within the arts community over the Kennedy Center’s new direction.
The event comes amid growing criticism over Trump’s reshaping of the Kennedy Center into a venue more aligned with his political and cultural vision. Critics argue that the traditionally apolitical institution has been politicized under his leadership, with programming now reflecting conservative ideologies.
Though Trump’s supporters hailed the moment as a triumph over “liberal elitism” in the arts, others saw the evening’s divided crowd as a symbol of a deeper cultural rift.
Whether the Kennedy Center’s transformation will impact its reputation and influence within the broader arts landscape remains to be seen. For now, Wednesday night’s performance served as a potent reminder that even a beloved musical like Les Misérables can become a stage for political spectacle in today’s polarized America.