Former President Donald Trump brushed off backlash over his surprise appearance at a Les Misérables performance, responding to reports of cast boycotts with a dismissive, “I couldn’t care less. All I do is run the country well.”
Speculation had swirled that Trump, alongside Melania and Vice President J.D. Vance, would be attending the show at the Kennedy Center. While rumors claimed that the cast was replaced with understudies in protest, a source close to the production called it “fake news.”
Outside the venue, drag performers and LGBTQ activists held a demonstration in response to Trump’s controversial overhaul of the Kennedy Center earlier this year. In February, Trump removed the Center’s existing board, appointed himself chairman, and named Richard Grenell as executive director. Since then, several artists have cut ties with the institution, and multiple LGBTQ-focused events, including a Pride-themed musical and a children’s performance, were abruptly canceled.
The atmosphere at the event was tense but mixed, with both applause and protest greeting the Trumps as they arrived. On the red carpet, Trump complimented the Kennedy Center’s original architecture while throwing shade at a recent addition. He recalled Cats as the first Broadway show he ever saw, while Melania cited Phantom of the Opera as her favorite.
When asked how he related to Les Misérables, Trump claimed he had seen the production “many times.” But when pressed on whether he identified more with the stoic Inspector Javert or the reformed Jean Valjean, he laughed and tossed the question to Melania, who chose not to answer.
