On June 11, 2025, Donald Trump and Melania Trump attended a performance of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. — his first visit to the venue since he took over leadership and board changes at the institution.

The audience reaction was visibly mixed: there were applause and chants of “USA!”, but also boos and protest signs. The event underscored cultural tensions, with drag performers present in protest and some cast members of the show reportedly planning to boycott the performance due to Trump’s leadership at the Center.

Trump also framed the evening as a fundraising success, claiming the event raised more than $10 million for the Kennedy Center, even as subscription and ticket‐sales data show significant declines since his leadership changes.

In short, the evening became more than a musical outing—it acted as a microcosm of contemporary debates over politics, culture and the arts in the U.S., with the themes of Les Misérables (power, protest, injustice) echoing in real time.