Donald and Melania Trump experienced a loud reception during the opening night of the new pro-MAGA Kennedy Center on Wednesday. As they entered the auditorium for the first performance of Les Misérables, they were met with a chorus of boos from the audience.
The event, attended by 2,300 guests, included several prominent MAGA supporters such as Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. along with his wife, Cheryl Hines. In response to the jeers, the pro-Trump faction in the audience rallied with cheers and chants of “USA! USA!”
Seated in a private box marked with a presidential seal, the Trumps waved to the crowd from their elevated position. Footage of the incident captured the mixed reception.
This ambivalent welcome comes two months after a similar occurrence involving the Vances at the same venue, which has turned into a focal point in the ongoing culture wars since Trump’s re-election campaign.
Since taking on the role of chair at the Kennedy Center in February, Trump has worked to revamp the board of trustees, aiming to eliminate what he refers to as “woke” productions from the revered institution. “They asked me to be chairman, I’ve got a lot of other things going on but it’s a great honor,” Trump remarked on the red carpet before entering to enjoy Les Misérables. He further expressed his affection for the musical, saying, “I love the songs, I love the play. I think it’s great. We may extend it.”
It remains uncertain if the hostility directed at him from parts of the audience will dampen his enthusiasm. To combat the perceived liberal bias of the venue, Trump has appointed figures such as Usha Vance, Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham to the board.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been critical of Trump throughout the week, also took to his X account, highlighting the irony of Trump hosting a production centered on themes of public rebellion and societal injustices. “Someone explain the plot to him,” Newsom tweeted on Wednesday.