Trump, Melania Booed at ‘Les Misérables’ Opening Night Amid Cast Protest at Kennedy Center

Several cast members skipped the performance in protest of Trump’s leadership overhaul at the arts institution; audience responds with mixed reactions

Washington, D.C., June 11 — President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were met with a chorus of boos and scattered applause at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night as they attended the opening performance of Les Misérables. The appearance, which had already drawn national attention due to an organized cast protest, marked yet another flashpoint in the ongoing cultural clash between the arts community and Trump’s administration.

Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance also attended the performance. The couple was similarly booed at the Kennedy Center in March during a National Symphony Orchestra event, highlighting persistent audience pushback toward members of the current administration.

Cast Protest Leaves Stage Half Empty

While the production of Les Misérables was expected to run for a full month, Wednesday’s performance featured a noticeably different cast. As reported by CNN on May 7, at least 10 of the 12 lead and ensemble performers opted out of performing the night of Trump’s attendance. According to sources, the cast was given the freedom to decline performing, and many chose to step back in silent protest of Trump’s recent actions involving the Kennedy Center.

The protest stems from Trump’s early-term decision to install himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center, followed by a sweeping purge of its leadership. Trump replaced existing board members with a roster of conservative allies, including the appointment of Richard Grenell—a former administration official—as the Center’s president and interim director.

Grenell issued a stern statement amid news of the cast’s protest:

“The Kennedy Center will no longer fund intolerance. Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed.”

He further added:

“We think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn’t hire.”

Grenell insisted the new vision for the Kennedy Center was to create a politically neutral space where “no one asks who you voted for,” but his comments drew criticism for appearing to blacklist dissenting performers.

A President and His Paradoxical Anthem

Trump’s affinity for Les Misérables has long raised eyebrows. He famously used the musical’s revolutionary anthem, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, in his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns and most recently at the 2025 White House Governors Ball, where the U.S. Army Chorus performed the song at his request.

The song’s lyrics — a passionate call to rise against oppression — have led many critics to call Trump’s use of it deeply ironic, if not tone-deaf, given his position of power.

“It is the music of the people / Who will not be slaves again!”

After Trump first used the anthem in 2016, Les Mis co-creator Sir Cameron Mackintosh and the musical’s authors denounced the usage in a joint statement, clarifying that they had never granted permission for any of their songs to be used at political events.

“The authors of Les Misérables… did not authorize or endorse usage of ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ at [Trump’s] rally and have never done so for this or any other political event,” they said via The Guardian.

Despite the disapproval, Trump has continued to champion the musical. The symbolism, however, remains a subject of controversy as he faces backlash not only from performers but also from portions of the very audiences attending these high-profile events.