PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance will attend the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Usha Vance, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, and Kennedy Center officials.
📍 Where & When: Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.
💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” President Trump said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”
⚠️ Impact: The opening night performance is nearly sold out, with ticket sales exceeding $3 million, and the Kennedy Center is undergoing revitalization efforts under new leadership.
IN FULL:
According to officials, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will join Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance for the opening night of the musical Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 11. The production, a staple of Broadway and West End history, is set to make a significant debut at the Washington, D.C. venue.
President Trump, who has often played songs from Les Misérables at his rallies, expressed enthusiasm for the production. “I love the songs, I love the play,” Trump remarked. “I think it’s great—we may extend it.”
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell highlighted the excitement surrounding the event. “Les Misérables is proving to be a huge hit,” Grenell stated. “Opening night is going to be electric.”
Officials at the Kennedy Center have reported strong ticket sales, with the first two weeks of performances nearly sold out and generating over $3 million in revenue. A spokesman noted that sales have exceeded expectations, surpassing typical timelines.
The opening night will feature a red carpet event, with select media invited to attend. Attendees are also encouraged to walk the red carpet, adding to the evening’s grandeur.
Last month, a significant number of actors expressed an intent to boycott President Trump’s appearance at a performance of Les Misérables. Grenell reacted, suggesting that performers engaging in such boycotts would not be welcome. “[T]he Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” he warned.
President Trump emphasized his commitment to restoring the Kennedy Center, which he described as previously neglected. “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” he said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”
Under Trump’s personal chairmanship, the Kennedy Center is working to bolster its financial sustainability. The venue, which includes affiliates such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, is aiming for larger endowments and long-term growth.
Grenell announced the season’s performances last month, completely free of left-wing ideological performances like drag shows.