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Global News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Donald, Melania Trump greeted with boos, cheers at Kennedy Center
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were greeted with a mix of boos and cheers by audience members at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night ahead of its inaugural performance of Les Misérables. The couple arrived at the event clad in black, the president in a traditional tuxedo and his wife in a long dress, posing in what was described by The Guardian as an 'eerily deserted Hall of Nations' ahead of the classic production's opening night. View image in full screen U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and first lady Melania Trump arrive to attend the opening night of 'Les Misérables' at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2025. ALEX WROBLEWSKI / Getty Images) Trump gave several brief interviews on the red carpet outside the famed arts institution, telling one reporter that he 'couldn't care less' when asked about some actors in the cast who were reportedly boycotting the show. Story continues below advertisement 'All I do is run the country well,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Shortly after, the pair entered the theatre to a round of cheers and boos, followed by a round of 'U.S.A., U.S.A.!' Before the president took his seat to watch the play, which was inspired by the June Rebellion — an insurrection helmed by French Republicans in the 1800s who wanted to oust the newly crowned monarch, Louis Philippe, for his decision to end public welfare programs for the poor — he shook a victorious fist towards the crowd from the balcony. The show begins with Jean Valjean, a man who breaks parole after spending 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, an officer fixated on enforcing law and order for the low-grade violation. Story continues below advertisement During a lifelong quest for redemption, Valjean becomes a successful businessman, local politician and father to an orphaned young girl, against the backdrop of the French Revolution. During the evening, a reporter asked Trump whether he identifies more with Valjean or Javert. 'Oh, that's a tough one,' he replied, just days after deploying thousands of troops to quash immigration demonstrations in Los Angeles without first consulting state authorities. 'You better answer that one, honey,' he said, looking at Melania. 'I don't know.' Vice-president JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance — a recently appointed Kennedy Center board of trustees member following Trump's conservative overhaul of its leadership — were also in attendance. View image in full screen U.S. Vice-president JD Vance (right) and his wife Usha Vance attend the opening night of 'Les Misérables' at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Shannon Finney / Getty Images In a social media post this week, the president said that protestors in Los Angeles were 'violent insurrectionist mobs' who 'are swarming and attacking federal agents,' adding that 'order will be restored and the Illegals will be expelled.' Story continues below advertisement In January, on the first day of his second term in office, Trump pardoned 1,500 people charged with crimes for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including those convicted of assaulting police officers.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Donald Trump's ‘Les Miserables' Appearance Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes
President Donald Trump's attendance at a performance of Les Miserables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, during which he received cheers and boos from sections of the crowd, triggered a wave of jokes and memes on social media. Newsweek contacted the White House and the Kennedy Center for comment on Thursday via email and online inquiry form, respectively, outside regular office hours. Following his second presidential inauguration in January, Trump fired most of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, replacing them with allies and appointing himself as chairman. The president attended the show in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of days of anti-immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, some of which have turned violent. In response, his administration ordered 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines against the wishes of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. On Wednesday, the president and first lady Melania Trump attended the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center. Other prominent figures in attendance included Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Footage of the event shows Trump receiving cheers and boos from the audience. According to CNN, one woman appeared to be escorted out after shouting, "Convicted felon, rapist!" Les Miserables is a musical adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. It is set against the backdrop of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, a failed insurrection against French King Louis Philippe that was suppressed by government troops. On X, Newsom shared a screenshot of an NBC News headline about the president's attendance, writing, "Someone explain the plot to him." The post has received more than 60,000 likes and 1.9 million views. User @BlueATLGeorgia, a pro-Democrat account with 39,000 followers, wrote: "Les Misérables is a story of social unrest, especially the June Rebellion, where young idealists rise up against inequality and government oppression. "Young people fight for justice, calling for reforms and dignity for the poor. The government responds to the rebellion with heavy force, resulting in bloodshed. Sound familiar?" A Michigan business called That Gay Guy Candle Co. wrote: "Trump's going to see Les Mis tonight? That's ironic." User @Betches_News told its 25,000 followers, "Trump and Melania watching Les Mis at the Kennedy Center tonight like." Below the caption, it shared a photo of a shocked woman asking: "Wait. Is this f*****g play about us?" User @toyjawn1 wrote, "Trump ... watching Les Mis ... with tickets upwards of the amount of an ordinary person's whole life wages," above a GIF of a man rubbing his face with an iron. During Thursday's performance, a number of drag performers sat below the presidential box in what one described as a "message of inclusivity." Before the performance, Trump attended a VIP reception with paid attendees. He told reporters that $10 million was raised for the Kennedy Center. Kennedy Center Interim Director Richard Grenell, commenting on reports that some actors did not want to perform in front of President Donald Trump,said: "Any performer who isn't professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won't be welcomed. In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn't hire—and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience." Darlene Webb, a Trump supporter who was at the performance, told CNN about the jeers: "I just wanted to clap and yell over it, because at this type of performance I don't think it was good for them to do that, professionally." Cara Segur, Webb's friend, told the outlet: "Seeing some of the actors and actresses, it looked like they were singing at him, instead of just singing to the crowd. And it felt really powerful and I liked it." On Saturday, a military parade is due to take place in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The day also marks Trump's 79th birthday. The "No Kings" movement has organized demonstrations against Trump across the U.S., with 1,800 events planned for Saturday. Related Articles Iran Threatens to Attack U.S. Forces if Israel Strikes Nuclear SitesDonald Trump's Approval Rating Plunges With MillennialsDonald Trump Issues Next Trade Deal Update After ChinaHow Project 2025 Compares With Trump's Los Angeles Response 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's 'Les Miserables' Appearance Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's attendance at a performance of Les Miserables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, during which he received cheers and boos from sections of the crowd, triggered a wave of jokes and memes on social media. Newsweek contacted the White House and the Kennedy Center for comment on Thursday via email and online inquiry form, respectively, outside regular office hours. Why It Matters Following his second presidential inauguration in January, Trump fired most of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, replacing them with allies and appointing himself as chairman. The president attended the show in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of days of anti-immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, some of which have turned violent. In response, his administration ordered 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines against the wishes of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. What To Know On Wednesday, the president and first lady Melania Trump attended the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center. Other prominent figures in attendance included Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Footage of the event shows Trump receiving cheers and boos from the audience. According to CNN, one woman appeared to be escorted out after shouting, "Convicted felon, rapist!" Les Miserables is a musical adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. It is set against the backdrop of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, a failed insurrection against French King Louis Philippe that was suppressed by government troops. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arriving to attend the opening night of "Les Miserables" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on June 11. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arriving to attend the opening night of "Les Miserables" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on June 11. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP/GETTY On X, Newsom shared a screenshot of an NBC News headline about the president's attendance, writing, "Someone explain the plot to him." The post has received more than 60,000 likes and 1.9 million views. User @BlueATLGeorgia, a pro-Democrat account with 39,000 followers, wrote: "Les Misérables is a story of social unrest, especially the June Rebellion, where young idealists rise up against inequality and government oppression. "Young people fight for justice, calling for reforms and dignity for the poor. The government responds to the rebellion with heavy force, resulting in bloodshed. Sound familiar?" A Michigan business called That Gay Guy Candle Co. wrote: "Trump's going to see Les Mis tonight? That's ironic." User @Betches_News told its 25,000 followers, "Trump and Melania watching Les Mis at the Kennedy Center tonight like." Below the caption, it shared a photo of a shocked woman asking: "Wait. Is this f*****g play about us?" User @toyjawn1 wrote, "Trump ... watching Les Mis ... with tickets upwards of the amount of an ordinary person's whole life wages," above a GIF of a man rubbing his face with an iron. During Thursday's performance, a number of drag performers sat below the presidential box in what one described as a "message of inclusivity." Before the performance, Trump attended a VIP reception with paid attendees. He told reporters that $10 million was raised for the Kennedy Center. What People Are Saying Kennedy Center Interim Director Richard Grenell, commenting on reports that some actors did not want to perform in front of President Donald Trump, said: "Any performer who isn't professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won't be welcomed. In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn't hire—and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience." Darlene Webb, a Trump supporter who was at the performance, told CNN about the jeers: "I just wanted to clap and yell over it, because at this type of performance I don't think it was good for them to do that, professionally." Cara Segur, Webb's friend, told the outlet: "Seeing some of the actors and actresses, it looked like they were singing at him, instead of just singing to the crowd. And it felt really powerful and I liked it." What Happens Next On Saturday, a military parade is due to take place in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The day also marks Trump's 79th birthday. The "No Kings" movement has organized demonstrations against Trump across the U.S., with 1,800 events planned for Saturday.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Does Donald Trump know what ‘Les Miserables' is about?
On the other hand, the president's affection for 'Les Miz' makes a certain kind of sense. In most stagings, ' Advertisement Which of the two principal characters of 'Lez Miz' does Trump identify with? The noble, principled Jean Valjean, who does everything he can to protect the vulnerable, who is imprisoned for nearly two decades for stealing a loaf of bread, who promises a dying woman he has just met that he will protect her young child and then proceeds to raise her as his own? Or the rigid, ruthless, humorless Inspector Javert, who hunts Valjean relentlessly after Valjean violates a condition of his parole that amounts to a mere technicality, refusing to believe that any 'criminal' can possibly find redemption? Trump is often identified with reality TV, but he also has an intuitive understanding of theater. What is Mar-a-Lago but the world's gaudiest set? Trump recognizes the symbolic weight of the Kennedy Center, a cultural center in the nation's capital. That's why Advertisement More than many of today's politicians, Trump understands that live performance still carries a potent, singular power, even in a digital age mediated by screens. He draws upon the mechanisms of theater. Consider his nearly-immediate response last year when he was the target of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. With blood on his ear and face, Trump pumped his fist in the air and So it's not surprising that the military parade in Washington scheduled for this Saturday — a day that coincides with Trump's birthday — shapes up to be, essentially, a theatrical event. Critics have accused Trump of inflaming the protests in Los Angeles against his immigration policies — and surely he knows how the imagery can work in his favor. 'Les Miserables' is based on Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (and, in English, by Herbert Kretzmer), and a book (i.e., script) by Schonberg and Boublil. It premiered on Broadway in 1987 after a successful run in England. A common misconception is that 'Les Miz'' is about the French Revolution of 1789, but it was inspired by a short-lived anti-monarchist rebellion in 1832, called the June Rebellion, which is also known as the Paris Uprising. Advertisement Trump is not the first president to be identified with a Broadway musical. Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were big fans of ' The lyrics in 'Les Miz' are not at the 'Hamilton' level, not awash in nuance, and neither are Trump's public utterances or social-media posts. He trades on the same handful of words: 'disgrace,' 'fake news,' 'witch hunt,' 'tremendous,' 'beautiful' (as in ' 'I know words. I have the best words,' Trump told a South Carolina crowd in 2015. So move aside, Shakespeare! You too, Hugo. Don Aucoin can be reached at
