The Trump Administration’s big night out at the re-tooled Kennedy Center, the Capitol venue now being led by the president after a stunning coup as he stormed back into the Oval Office, was marked by a protest attendance by local drag queens and an eruption of booing and reactive MAGA-rally-style chants from the crowd on Wednesday.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump attended the Kennedy Center Opera House debut of a touring group’s performance of the smash hit musical Les Misérables — the beloved show that grew in popularity in 1980s New York as Trump made a name for himself in tandem as a commercial real estate mogul and tabloid fixture. As armed National Guard troops mobilized by Trump remain in Los Angeles to stand guard federal buildings amid initially peaceful protests but also are accompanying ICE in immigration raids, he and the first lady walked a red carpet ahead of the debut of the musical, which focuses the poor and downtrodden fighting with the resistance at the dawn of revolution. The show is a favorite of Trump’s, he said from the red carpet on Wednesday.
The political musical is the first show to land at the premier Washington, D.C. venue since Trump took control of the institution in February. Within the first month of his second term, Trump fired its entire board then replaced them with loyalists including Susie Wiles, his chief of staff, Second Lady Usha Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s wife, Allison, and Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham; the new hand selected board soon voted him in as the chairman. Wednesday night was purportedly a fundraising event for the suddenly cash-strapped venue. The event’s gold sponsors paid $2 million for 10 premier seats, a photo op with the president and 10 VIP reception tickets.
Squared in with many members of his cabinet, Trump stood in the presidential box after seating, a few boos grew and were peppered with heckles shouted from above. This gave way to some cheers and a chanting of “U.S.A! U.S.A!” from some of the president’s supporters in attendance. As the president exited the theater, a woman yelled, “Felon, you’re a convicted felon!” at Trump. She got in another clearer, “Convicted felon, rapist!” before security intervened.
That outburst and the scattered booing weren’t the only protest at the Kennedy Center last night, either. Seated in front of the presidential box was a group of four drag queens, whose noticeable attendance in the crowd, a mix of D.C’s new MAGA elite and arts patrons of the very blue District, was a response to Trump’s comment while overtaking the beloved institution that there would now be no “woke” performances or drag shows at the Kennedy Center.
“[This gives] a message of inclusivity. I really love musicals, I mean I’m a drag queen,” performer Tara Hoot told CNN while dressed in a hot pink dress and fluffy boa.
The four queens, who The Advocate reports received tickets provided by supportive season ticket holders, mingled in the crowd ahead of the curtain, rubbing shoulders with attendees that included Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, Vice President J.D. Vance, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., and adviser Corey Lewandowski. While entering the storied venue, the quad received a warm reception, mostly from locals complimenting their fashion choices and sizable hair.
Ahead of the touring group of Les Misérables’ Washington debut, there was also controversy from the cast. Ten of the 12 principal players said they would boycott the night over Trump’s attendance. It’s unclear how many of the show’s actors followed through on this threat. None of this seemed to bother Trump, whose unprecedented escalation of the federal response to L.A.’s protests this week saw a journalist shot with a rubber bullet while on camera.
“I couldn’t care less, honestly, I couldn’t,” he replied. “All I do is run the country — well.”
