Trump’s response to appearance snub exposed.
President Donald Trump walked into the Kennedy Center Wednesday night with first lady Melania Trump on his arm.
Trump’s theater endeavour explained.
It was supposed to be just another presidential date night at the Kennedy Center—but nothing with Donald Trump is ever “just” anything.
Trump didn’t just attend a show—he now runs the theater.
Just 19 days into his second term, Trump fired the entire board of the Kennedy Center and appointed himself chairman.
No sitting president had ever staged a takeover of America’s most prominent arts institution. Until now.
His pick to run the day-to-day? Richard Grenell—former Acting Director of National Intelligence, now arts czar.
He’s doing double duty, working behind the scenes in both diplomacy and musical programming.
New Kennedy Center board members include Pam Bondi, Susie Wiles, and country crooner Lee Greenwood.
“It’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it,” Trump said, mocking the Center’s modern addition.
Grenell’s Broadway season highlighted.
The 2025–2026 lineup? Les Misérables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Mrs. Doubtfire, Spamalot, and Back to the Future.
WorldPride-linked events and other queer-centered programming were quietly removed from the Kennedy Center calendar.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. had its June performance scrapped with no public explanation.
Finn, a show for children featuring LGBTQ themes, was nixed entirely from the season.
Trump’s Les Mis appearance described.
When news broke that Trump would attend Les Mis, local drag queens announced plans to protest outside—and maybe inside.
As Trump’s motorcade pulled up, drag queens were already rallying a block from the Kennedy Center’s front doors.
With Melania by his side, President Trump walked into the Kennedy Center, ignoring the circus outside.
The audience gave it all—cheering, booing, and even chanting “USA!” as the First Couple took their seats.
Some of the protestors actually got seats—and applause—from parts of the crowd when they entered.
“The bones of this facility are really incredible,” Trump said. “We’re going to make it really great.”
Standing above the entrance, Grenell looked on approvingly as Trump worked the red carpet.
Asked about his first-ever theater experience, Trump guessed: “Maybe it was Cats.”
Always one for elegance, Melania smiled and named Phantom of the Opera as her first.
Trump’s response to actors’ snub disclosed.
Reports began circulating that Les Mis cast members were skipping the show entirely in protest.
According to CNN, the performers had refused to appear for the president—and backups were being used instead.
A source close to Grenell told Daily Mail the report was bogus: “It was fake news from CNN from the beginning.”
A reporter directly asked Trump what he thought of the Les Mis cast snub.
“I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I couldn’t,” Trump said. “All I do is run the country well.”
“Oh that’s a tough one,” he laughed. “You better answer that one, honey.”
The First Lady stayed quiet as the night’s final act faded out and the spotlight shifted somewhere else.
Drama off-stage rivals what’s on it.
From Broadway to backlash, Trump’s Les Mis night was anything but quiet.
With boos, protests, and a cast rumored to walk out, the drama extended far beyond the stage.
But if the goal was attention, Trump—as always—got a standing ovation in headlines.