Trump met with cheers and boos at Kennedy Centre for Les Miserables performance

WASHINGTON - A loud mix of boos and cheers greeted US President Donald Trump on June 11 when he attended his first production at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, the institution he subjected to a conservative takeover earlier in 2025.

The mixed reception from theatregoers for Mr Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box for a performance of Les Miserables reflected the heightened emotions unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre and use of executive power to shake up US society.

His appearance at a musical about citizens rising up against their government came just days after

he sent US Marines and the National Guard

to quell protests against his administration’s immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Power and protest - key themes in the show - manifested within the theatre itself.

While some kept their backs turned to Mr Trump, who raised his fist as he greeted the crowd, others chanted “USA! USA!” to drown out boos as he and his wife were seated.

Several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Mr Trump’s criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows.

One person shouted “Viva Los Angeles” as Mr Trump stepped out of the presidential box at the intermission.

Mr Trump did not attend events at the Kennedy Centre during his first term but has taken a keen interest in it during his second.

He pushed out its former chairman and took on the role himself, fired its longtime president and

pledged to overhaul an institution

that he criticised as too liberal.

The centre, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support.

Ticket sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit Hamilton, have cancelled their engagements.

Mr Trump’s appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the centre, and he said donors raised over US$10 million (S$13 million).

“We’re going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we’ll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level,” a tuxedo-clad Mr Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet.

Overall, year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to US$2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to one person briefed on the data.

Theatre subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the centre, were down 82 per cent.

A Kennedy Centre official said the comparisons reflected in those subscription sales were not accurate because the centre had launched its subscription renewal campaign later in 2025 than 2024.

“Our renewal campaign is just kicking off,” Ms Kim Cooper, senior vice-president of marketing, said in a statement.

Ms Cooper also noted the centre had launched a new subscription option that allowed customers to “mix and match” genres, and said more announcements of shows were coming.

The Kennedy Centre depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate.

Ticket sales for Les Miserables have been robust, according to another Kennedy Centre official.

Donors who pay US$100,000 to US$2 million got to attend a reception before the show, receive a photo with the President and be seated in good locations in the theatre.

“We’ve raised a little more than US$10 million for tonight, which is pretty remarkable, and it’s an organisation that needs the money right now,” said Mr Ric Grenell, a close Mr Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany who now heads the Kennedy Centre.

Under his leadership, the centre has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Mr Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ.

Mr Trump said he particularly enjoyed Les Miserables, a musical about citizens rising up against their government.

“I’ve seen it many times, it’s one of my favourites,” he said.

Secret Service agents inspected the prop guns used in the production and remained backstage for the show.

Vice-President J.D. Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr also attended.

Mr Vance was likewise met with boos when he attended a Kennedy Centre show with his wife earlier in 2025.

He said on June 11 that such reactions came with the territory of holding national office.

When initiating his takeover of the centre, Mr Trump zeroed in on drag shows to argue that the Kennedy Centre’s agenda include characters dressed in drag, such as Mrs Doubtfire and Chicago.

Other musicals have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Centre official. REUTERS