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The Kennedy Center hosted the performance of “Les Misérables” on June 11, but the true revolution took place among the audience, where President Donald Trump was present.
Just days ahead of his 79th birthday, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the Kennedy Center for the show of “Les Misérables,” a musical that delves into themes of injustice, poverty, and rebellion against a “tyrannical king.”
“The Kennedy Center is making a comeback. It wasn’t properly maintained, and we are reclaiming it to transform it into something wonderful.”
The President’s presence marked his first visit to the theater since he controversially dismissed much of its leadership and vowed to eliminate what he termed its “woke” programming.
“NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA,” he posted on Truth Social on February 10.
Staged boycott
In the days leading up to the performance, CNN reported that some cast members of “Les Misérables” intended to boycott the event in protest of Trump’s presence.
The production allegedly offered the cast the choice to skip that evening’s show, and several prominent performers, including lead actors and ensemble members, opted not to perform in what seemed to be a subtle yet impactful protest.
When questioned before the show about the public backlash, Trump stated: “I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t. All I do is run the country well.”
Drag queens
Additionally, as reported by NPR, some ticket holders donated their seats to drag performers, adding another layer of bold defiance to the evening.
“It was protest by taking up space,” Tara Hoot, one of the attending queens, shared with the outlet. “We aimed to support the artists and highlight the drag ban at the Kennedy Center by showing up and being fabulous.”
‘Felon!’
By the time intermission arrived, the drama extended beyond the stage. As the lights illuminated the end of Act I, the audience erupted once more as the President and his wife rose in the presidential box.
However, it wasn’t just cheers and applause that reverberated through the walls of the DC cultural center.
As reported by CNN, a woman in the orchestra section suddenly yelled, “Felon, you’re a convicted felon!”
The noise from the crowd diminished, and her voice became even more distinct: “Convicted felon, rapist!”
Security was on her in an instant, escorting her out while bewildered audience members watched in shock.
Then, from another part of the crowd, a voice shouted: “F**k Trump!”
Just moments later, counter-shouts of “We love you!” resonated back, followed by a new wave of boos, and then “U.S.A! U.S.A!”
Trump reacted in full campaign-rally style, raising his fist in the air three times. The gesture was unmistakable, reminiscent of the now-iconic fist-raising moment he made after surviving an assassination attempt last year in Pennsylvania, when he defiantly shouted to the crowd: “Fight, fight, fight.”
Wildly ironic’
Videos showing the couple being greeted with both boos and some applause quickly went viral, with many internet users remarking on the “wildly ironic” situation of Trump attending “Les Misérables” “while he sends troops to attack protesters.”
His visit to the megamusical – which narrates the tale of marginalized individuals rising against their government in 19th-century France – coincides with Trump deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles to suppress growing anti-deportation protests.
“Someone explain the plot to him,” joked democratic California governor Gavin Newsom on X, sharing a news clip with the headline: “Trump attends ‘Les Misérables’ premiere as protests persist across the country.”
“I swear I am not making this up. Trump [at] the Kennedy Center to see ‘Les Misérables,’ a play about a mass uprising against a tyrannical king…the satire writes itself,” a second user added.
“More boos than cheers. Just wait until he figures out the storyline of ‘Les Misérables,’” remarked a third individual.
In the meantime, others shared their opinions regarding the mix of cheers and boos.
“In a truly embarrassing moment, Donald Trump was booed relentlessly at the Kennedy Center. Can’t help but love it,” tweeted another user, who also included a clip of the audience’s reaction.
“It’s tough for MAGA supporters to grasp this, but… a lot of people really dislike Trump,” commented a second user, while another added, “It should have been nothing but boos.”
Melania’s thumb
As if that wasn’t enough, another collection of photos from the event sparked a lot of conversation. One image captured President Trump awkwardly holding what appeared to be just Melania’s thumb as they exited the venue, and it quickly went viral.
Many speculated that the First Lady was reluctant to hold his hand, with others suggesting her body language indicated she wasn’t particularly happy to be there. Some even claimed she seemed visibly uncomfortable due to the protests and heckling directed at Trump during the event.
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to attend a performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center this evening. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The moment dubbed the “thumb-hold” quickly escalated into a social media frenzy, generating memes, jokes, and a plethora of theories regarding the couple’s relationship. Many were quick to highlight that this isn’t the first instance of Melania appearing to avoid a hand-hold, recalling the 2017 video where she pushed Trump’s hand away in Israel, along with another similar incident during a 2020 debate.
In her 2024 memoir, Melania has since commented on these viral instances, stating that they were largely misinterpreted and were more about timing or logistics rather than any issues in their relationship.
Nevertheless, the internet remains captivated. Every awkward glance or hand-hold (or the absence of one) quickly becomes fodder for memes — a testament to the fact that with the Trumps, even the tiniest moment can ignite a social media firestorm.
