On Wednesday, President Trump was greeted by a loud mix of booing and applause when he took his seat at the Kennedy Center for the premiere of “Les Miserables.” The mixed reception given to the U.S. leader and First Lady Melania reflected in part the high tensions of recent days, marked by protests against ICE raids that are affecting many cities across the country.
After the first act ended, many reserved an ovation for the president and his spouse, while others began chanting the classic “USA!USA!” chorus. Again, however, there was no shortage of controversy. One woman in the audience, in fact, began shouting, “Criminal, you are a convicted criminal.”
Four drag queens sat just below the presidential stage, defying Trump’s promise that he did not want to see any more “woke” shows or performances at the center–which he essentially took control of after his return to the White House–assuming the role of chairman of the BOD. One of the drag queens, Tara Hoot, said their presence was “a message of inclusiveness.”
The president’s first appearance was aimed at boosting fundraising for the Kennedy Center, and according to him, donors raised more than $10 million. “We’re going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we’ll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level,” Trump said to reporters after arriving on the red carpet.
However, since the MAGA leader took control of the institute, overall year-over-year subscription revenues have dropped 36 percent and ticket sales have also declined. Just before Wednesday night’s performance began, there were many empty seats in the 2,300-seat theater, despite the event having been previously sold out: given Trump’s presence, some preferred to stay home.
The Kennedy Center depends primarily on revenue from coupons and season tickets, as well as donations. Ticket sales for “Les Misérables” were satisfactory, according to an institution official. Donors who paid between $100,000 and $2 million were able to attend a reception before the show, have their pictures taken with the president and get the best seats in the theater.
“We’ve raised a little more than $10 million for tonight, which is pretty remarkable,” said Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany who now heads the Kennedy Center. Trump said he particularly enjoyed “Les Miserables,” a musical that tells the story of some citizens who rebel against their government. “I’ve seen it many times, it’s one of my favorites,” he said.
Trump’s appearance comes just days after he sent the U.S. Marines and National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests against his administration’s anti-immigration raids. In addition to the MAGA leader and the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were also present.
