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USA Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Trump doesn't know if he's the hero or villain in 'Les Mis.' How ironic.
Trump doesn't know if he's the hero or villain in 'Les Mis.' How ironic. | Opinion Sending the military in to quell protests is more aligned with the French monarchy than the revolutionaries. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump met with boos, cheers before Les Misérables at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump attended "Les Miserables" at the Kennedy Center after overhauling its leadership and naming himself chairman. On June 11, President Donald Trump appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the opening night of 'Les Misérables.' If you're at all familiar with the musical, you'll understand why that's so ironic. Trump staged a hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center back in February, changing up the board and making himself chairman of the iconic performing arts venue. It led several artists to cancel performances. According to The New York Times, some 'Les Misérables' cast members had considered boycotting the Wednesday performance that kicked off the summer 2025 season. The president, oblivious as always, says the show is 'great.' Ever the musical theater fan, he has used one of the most recognizable songs from 'Les Mis' at multiple rallies over the years. You know, the one the cast sings on the eve of revolting against the monarchy? Surely the man who has inspired nationwide 'No Kings Day' protests understands how laughable that is. Does Trump identify with hero or villain of 'Les Mis'? He doesn't know. If you're unfamiliar with the musical, let me give you a rundown. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the story follows Jean Valjean after he leaves prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving relatives. After an interaction with a priest, he is inspired to live a better life, which includes adopting and raising a child named Cosette after her mother dies. The musical is set during a French revolution that culminates in the 1832 June Rebellion, where a group of student revolutionaries known as the Friends of the ABC try to lead the city into revolt. These are the students Republican leaders would want to deport. Opinion: Trump supporters, this is what you're cheering as his deportation scheme unfolds Apparently, despite his love of the musical, Trump doesn't know if he's the hero or villain of this story. He told The Washington Post he wasn't sure if he identified more with Valjean or Javert, the prison guard turned inspector who is obsessed with bringing Valjean to justice. It's an ironically indecisive thing to say, considering he has sent military troops to Los Angeles to quell protests against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and has spent much of the past few months raging against students protesting for Palestine. It's hard to picture Trump as the hero of this story. That would require him learning how to be a more caring person over time. Given his rhetoric on immigrants, trans people and basically anyone who disagrees with him, I doubt he's experienced that kind of transformation. Imagine treating immigrants like they stole bread Art has always been part of protest and resistance. The theater is no exception. These forms of expression can also be used as propaganda. With Trump's declaration that the Kennedy Center's "woke" programming is done for, it seems that only tolerable art will make it through the vetting process. Somehow, "Les Mis" slipped through the cracks, likely because Trump actually likes the musical. Opinion: I told you GOP would come for marriage. Southern Baptists just proved my point. If Trump actually paid attention to the songs and themes of "Les Mis," maybe he'd realize that his desire to lay down the law is more aligned with Javert than anyone else in the show. Maybe he'd realize that sending the military to quell protests is more aligned with the actions of the French monarchy than those of the revolutionaries. Maybe he'd realize that he has more in common with the monarchy than the people. Probably not. But maybe. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Blow by blow: the bitter battle for the seat of Kooyong
KEY MOMENTS OF THE KOOYONG CAMPAIGN: * March 15: Teal independent Monique Ryan accused of shouting at young Liberal volunteers, who she claimed were physically aggressive towards her * March 24: Dr Ryan's husband Peter Jordan apologises after being filmed removing a sign promoting Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer. Liberals capitalise with addition to corflutes that reads "Monique, please DO NOT take this sign" * April 2: Ms Hamer pulls out of a candidates forum at short notice to participate in a mass phone call to Kooyong residents with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor * April 7: Ms Hamer admits she owns apartments in London and Canberra after repeatedly pitching herself as a struggling renter, sparking "landlord of the year 2025" posters. She later tells reporters it's "hard to be a landlord in Victoria" * April 17: Ms Hamer confirms she is among the listed beneficiaries of a $20 million trust fund and accuses Dr Ryan's volunteers of putting together a "dirt file" on her * April 19: A surgeon apologises after a video shows him stomping on a corflute for Dr Ryan and telling viewers to "bury the body under concrete" * April 24: A candidates forum at a local library, hosted by Friends of the ABC, is gatecrashed by three men from a "nationalist organisation for the preservation of Western culture and identity" * April 28: Footage emerges of two people in campaign T-shirts for Dr Ryan saying the leader of the Hubei Association, accused of working with a department of the Chinese Communist Party's central committee, "required" them to vote for the teal MP. The electoral commission opens a review * April 29: A "sign war" erupts outside a pre-poll site in Kew, with the Liberals ordered by the local council to follow a permit directive limiting candidates to one each * April 30: Boroondara council officers seize dozens of the Liberal signs after the party threatens legal action
ABC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Kooyong MP denounces gatecrashers who interrupted election forum
Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has condemned gatecrashers who interrupted an election forum on Wednesday night, dubbing them "right-wing bullies" The community event, convened by Friends of the ABC, was attended by Ms Ryan alongside Greens candidate Jackie Carter and Labor candidate Clive Crosby at a local library. A Friends of the ABC spokesperson said gatecrashers entered the room part way through the event, with one man loudly interrupting the speakers with claims about crime and immigration. "He was impossible to ignore, because he was certainly yelling, and there was no stopping him," the spokesperson said. "People were very worried." The video was shared on social media by a group labelling itself as an 'Australian nationalist organisation", showing the three men shouting, and one female member of the audience throwing a punch at one of the men. Ms Ryan said the woman was distressed. "She went over to him and she actually sort of threw a punch at him," Ms Ryan said. "She was a little lady, pretty frail, and he was not a small man, and I was really concerned about that, and the potential for that to escalate." She said she asked one of the other candidates to call the police while audience members and organisers managed to move the men out of the room. She said it was concerning that there seemed to be an increasing amount disruption of community events. It comes after a disruption at a forum in Kooyong on Tuesday night, where a man challenged Ms Ryan
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Wild moment an elderly lady throws a punch at a political gatecrasher - as election campaign violence erupts across the country
An elderly lady has attacked a gatecrasher at a candidates forum hours after two separate incidents interrupted pre-polling. A crowd of 60 voters attended a Friends of the ABC organised forum in Kew in the north-east Melbourne seat of Kooyong on Wednesday night. Teal independent MP Monique Ryan spoke at the event alongside her Labor and Greens rivals about the state of Australian media and funding for the national broadcaster. Footage captured the moment all hell broke loose 30 minutes into the event when three protesters stormed into the room. One of the men was identified as Matt Trihey, a member of neo-nazi Thomas Sewell's Lads Society but has denied being a neo-nazi himself. 'You people are destroying this country because you will not address civic safety,' he was heard shouting. Attendees called for the men to leave before an elderly lady marched up to Mr Trihey to confront him and punched him in the face. Ms Ryan was among those who then intervened and consoled the woman. Organisers called police, who arrived a short time later and spoke to the men as they left the venue. 'At this stage no further complaints have been made to police. The investigation is ongoing,' a spokesman said. Attendee were shocked by the events that transpired. 'They weren't expecting that sort of interruption, and it was upsetting [for them],' Ms Ryan told The Age. 'I was also concerned that things could potentially get out of hand if someone felt the need to [physically] intervene. 'It's unfortunate … I've not heard of that sort of thing [happening at other forums].' The latest incident comes after two confrontations during pre-polling in Sydney. Police arrested a man on Wednesday a day after he kicked down election signage and confronted volunteers outside a pre-polling booth. Footage emerged of the man destroying Liberal posters outside Dunmore Lang College in Macquarie Park in the north-west Sydney electorate of Bennelong. He was also heard yelling at party volunteers nearby. 'Is it you? All these f***ing Liberal signs, brah,' the man fumed. 'All of these f***ing signs and I've got to look at them.' Volunteers asked the man to 'move along', as he kicked signs for local Liberal candidate Scott Yung. He was then heard yelling at a female volunteer. 'Don't put your f***ing hands on me,' he could be heard saying. 'Because you're a woman, yeah, you're allowed to?' The man then kicked two more signs before turning to face off with a Liberal volunteer before a Greens supporter intervened and escorted him away. The episode came just after Mr Yung announced pre-polling had 'kicked off'. No one was injured. Police arrested a man, 30 at a Macquarie Park home on Wednesday. 'The man allegedly intimidated a 32-year-old female volunteer and acted in an aggressive manner towards two other volunteers,' a police statement read. He was charged with intimidation and bail to appear at Burwood Local Court June 2. The Australian Electoral Commission is aware of the incident. 'The AEC is aware of this matter. It occurred outside of the polling venue, did not involve an AEC staff member and did not affect the continued operation of polling activities,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Destruction of property or intimidatory behaviour is potentially a police matter but not one for the AEC. 'The AEC has been consistent throughout the election in calling for lawful and respectful campaigning to occur. It's disappointing to see any violent or intimidatory behaviour.' One local, Steve, told the Daily Telegraph he was left frightened by the incident. '(I'm) still a bit traumatised to be honest,' he said. 'Thankfully I wasn't in his way but I was fearing for the guy in the Liberal shirt.' Liberal Party candidate for Bennelong Scott Yung and Labor MP Jerome Laxale were contacted for comment. Earlier on Wednesday, an elderly man was rushed to hospital with head injuries after tensions erupted outside a pre-polling booth at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's electorate. Emergency services attended Ashfield Civic Centre in Sydney's inner-west following reports of an alleged assault. The man, 79, was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition. It's understood the man was wearing a Make America Great Again hat and allegedly became aggressive towards a volunteer offering how-to-vote pamphlets. He then allegedly approached a Labor corflute picturing Mr Albanese with intent to deface it, Nine News reported. He was confronted by a woman before a teenage boy, 17, allegedly crossed the road and struck the man, who fell to the ground. The boy was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear in a children's court on Thursday
