Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump made a defiant return to the cultural spotlight Wednesday night at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, brushing off a boycott by cast members of Les Misérables and protests from LGBTQ activists gathered nearby.

Flanked by First Lady Melania Trump, the president arrived for the premiere of the iconic musical amid a flurry of political controversy and divided public reception. “I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,” Trump told reporters on the red carpet when asked about the performers who refused to take the stage for his attendance. “All I do is run the country well.”

The evening unfolded as a vivid intersection of politics and the arts. While rumors had swirled that the Trumps, along with Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha, would attend a stripped-down performance with understudies, a source close to interim Kennedy Center director Richard Grenell told the Daily Mail that earlier reports were “fake news… all anonymous sources.”

Just outside the theatre, drag queens gathered a block away, staging a peaceful yet pointed demonstration. Though no major disruptions occurred inside, the presence of protestors was clearly felt. Attendees offered a mixed response — cheers, applause, a chant of “USA,” but also some jeers — as the first couple made their entrance.

This event marks another chapter in the ongoing transformation of the Kennedy Center under Trump’s leadership. Nineteen days into his second term, the president made a historic and controversial move by seizing direct control of the institution named after Democratic icon John F. Kennedy. Trump dismissed the existing board and appointed himself chairman, installing longtime loyalist Richard Grenell — who served as Acting Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term — as executive director.

“The bones of this facility are really incredible,” Trump said on the red carpet. “We’re going to make it really great.”

Since the leadership change, programming at the Kennedy Center has undergone a dramatic shift. LGBTQ-related events, including Finn, a children’s musical, and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., were dropped from the calendar. Meanwhile, WorldPride-affiliated performances were relocated. Several high-profile figures in the arts, including Insecure cast members, Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, and pianist Ben Folds, severed ties with the Center in response.

Despite criticism, Trump praised the upcoming 2025–2026 season, which includes crowd-pleasing musicals such as Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Back to the Future: The Musical, and Mrs. Doubtfire. “We’ve got other great ones coming,” he said.

Still, the boycott by some Les Misérables performers underscored growing resistance within the arts community. Their absence was quietly acknowledged during the performance, which continued with replacement cast members. Meanwhile, a few drag queens who secured seats in the audience were applauded as they made their way to their rows — a symbolic counter-protest within the walls of the very institution Trump now controls.

Melania Trump, when asked by the Daily Mail, confirmed she is a fan of Les Misérables. “I am, thank you,” she said. The president added, “I’ve seen it, we’ve seen it, a number of times, it’s fantastic. It was just about our first choice.”

Asked about which character he identified with more — Inspector Javert, the relentless lawman, or Jean Valjean, the ex-convict turned redeemer — Trump deflected. “Oh, that’s a tough one… that’s tough I think,” he laughed. “You better answer that one honey, I don’t know.” Melania remained silent.

During a recent dinner with his newly appointed board members — now including country singer Lee Greenwood, longtime aide Susie Wiles, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — Trump criticized the architecture of the Kennedy Center’s newest addition. “It’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it,” he joked.

Whether the Kennedy Center is entering a renaissance or retreating from its inclusive past remains a matter of fierce debate. But one thing is certain: in Trump’s new era, the curtain has risen on a culture war center stage.