President Trump is attending the musical ‘Les Mis’ – why is this a big deal?
President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are planning to attend opening night of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 11.
The musical, about characters navigating social injustice and revolution in France, is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, with a book by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, music by Schönberg and lyrics by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Its first United States staging was at the Kennedy Center in 1986.
Trump is a fan. At campaign rallies he would make his entrance to the anthemic “Do You Hear the People Sing?” blaring from loudspeakers. The U.S. Army Chorus performed the song at a ball for the country’s governors at the White House, hosted by the President and First Lady.
Les Misérables is at odds with Trump’s ‘ethos’
Many have commented on Trump’s affection for a story that, in part, depicts a rebellion by students and the poor against the ruling class. As the lyrics to that song say, the people “singing a song of angry men” are making “the music of a people who will not be slaves again.”
Mattia Ferraresi, writing for the website Air Mail, calls Les Mis “a show that could not be further from the ethos” of Trump’s administration. “The heroes of the play resemble the villains of today’s reality, and vice versa. The highest virtue of Hugo’s characters is mercy, while Trump’s role models thrive on retribution.”
Trump leadership has lead to canceled shows
In February, Trump took over the Kennedy Center. He fired president Deborah Rutter and purged members of the board who’d been appointed by President Biden. Trump’s newly-appointed board voted him chair and Trump named Richard “Ric” Grenell president.
Trump has derided past programming at the Kennedy Center in speeches and on social media. “The programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, [diversity, equity and inclusion] and inappropriate shows,” he said at a recent dinner for the Kennedy Center board.
On Truth Social, he wrote that Grenell “shares my Vision for a GOLDEN AGE of American Arts and Culture, and will be overseeing the daily operations of the Center. NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST.”
Trump’s actions and comments since January have infuriated artists, some of whom cancelled their shows.
The creators of Hamilton cancelled a performance that was intended to be part of the Kennedy Center’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Lin-Manuel Miranda told the New York Times that “it’s not the Kennedy Center as we knew it.”
According to CNN, at least 10 members of the cast of Les Misérables have chosen not to perform during the show’s run at the Kennedy Center. Bond Theatrical, which produces the touring production, would not confirm CNN’s report. In an email to NPR, a Bond representative wrote, “The national tour of Les Misérables will be performing its first-class production for DC audiences throughout their engagement at the Kennedy Center, where the US first saw the original production in 1986.”
The Kennedy Center recently announced the lineup for its 2025-2026 season, which includes Broadway touring productions of Moulin Rouge, Chicago and Mrs. Doubtfire. But, according to The Washington Post, subscription ticket sales are down by 36% from this time last year.
The Kennedy Center has denied this, saying on social media that it “isn’t accurate” because “our renewal campaign is just kicking off and our hard-copy season brochures have not yet hit homes.”
Trump’s attendance at events may be a boost to its bottom line. On the Kennedy Center’s website, tickets to Les Mis on June 11 are sold out.
Jennifer Vanasco edited this story.
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