Donald Trump booed at the Kennedy Center premiere of "Les Misérables."

This Wednesday, June 11, 2025, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attended the premiere of "Les Misérables" at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, their first visit there since taking office.

Upon his arrival, a portion of the audience reacted with loud boos , drowned out by cheers and chants of "USA! USA!" that attempted to drown out the protests. At the end of the interval, an insult directed at Trump was even heard, prompting a spontaneous standing ovation.

The presence of drag queens in the auditorium was notable and considered a form of visual protest , a clear allusion to Trump's recent criticism of such performances at the Center.

The event also had its positive moments : Trump walked the red carpet in full regalia , posing among his entourage, including Ric Grenell (the center's interim president), Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary Kennedy Jr. He also claimed that the public raised more than $10 million that night, according to state media.

The context of this evening is highly tense: the president triggered an institutional earthquake in February by replacing the Kennedy Center's board, naming himself chairman of the board, and promising to eradicate what he defined as "woke" ideology from its programming . The consequences were not long in coming: resignations of artists, cancellations of shows like Hamilton, and a sharp clash between the Trump administration and the cultural sector.