Trump isn’t just a menace when it comes to poor economic decisions. He’s also proving to be a problem for the arts. In case you missed it, back in February, Trump declared himself the Chairman of the Kennedy Center in Washington. Just like he claimed to “make America great again,” he now wants to do the same with the Kennedy Center, at least based on his own standards.
One of the first things he did was fire multiple people from the Board of Trustees, including several who had been appointed by former President Joe Biden. He specifically expressed dislike toward the Kennedy Center’s decision to host drag shows and made it clear he wanted to put a stop to them.
Since Trump’s takeover in Washington, more than 20 shows scheduled to appear at the Kennedy Center have been canceled. Officially, the reasons listed include low ticket sales, financial concerns, or voluntary withdrawals by the artists. However, many believe these cancellations are actually acts of political protest against Trump’s actions.
Among those pushing back are the cast members of Les Misérables. Between 10 and 12 of them reportedly chose not to perform during the June 11 show, which Trump was set to attend. Their absence was a statement against the president. Trump had previously praised the show, calling it “non-woke,” and even used “Do You Hear the People Sing?” at his rallies in the past, despite objections from the musical’s original creators.
It seems the feeling is not mutual, as the cast appears to strongly disapprove of him. And they are not alone. The musical Hamilton was also canceled at the Kennedy Center earlier in March following Trump’s appointment. Producer Jeffrey Seller criticized Trump’s move, calling the firing of previous board members a destruction of the Kennedy Center’s artistic neutrality.
In response, Trump claimed he never liked the musical that much to begin with. Now, another one of his favorite shows has turned away from him as well. Still, Trump attended the Kennedy Center in Washington on June 11. Among the audience were several drag queens who clearly remembered his past hostility toward drag culture. Many in the crowd also booed him as he entered, making it clear that his presence was not welcome.
Many people found the situation hilarious, openly enjoying the schadenfreude of Trump’s public embarrassment. One Redditor quipped, “May this man never again have peace. Also, the irony of him attending a performance of Les Mis. He absolutely has no clue what it’s about, right? Or does he think Javert is the hero?”
