President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped back into the spotlight on June 11 as they attended a performance of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was Trump’s first visit since reshaping the institution’s leadership and programming—and the audience made sure he felt it.
A Theater Split Down the Middle
The moment the couple appeared in the presidential box, the room erupted into a clash of applause, chants, and loud boos. Some attendees stood and cheered; others shouted back with sharp criticism. Trump responded with his signature triple fist-pump, while supporters countered the boos with chants of “U.S.A.”
Intermission only intensified the split. As the lights rose, both praise and profanity ricocheted across the hall. Commentators called the crowd’s reaction “a perfect snapshot of the country’s divide.”
Behind-the-Scenes Drama: Cast Opt-Outs & Drag-Seat Buzz
The night wasn’t just chaotic inside the theater. Leading up to the performance, some cast members reportedly chose to sit the show out—an option granted by the production—citing discomfort with the presidential visit.
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