Donald Trump and Melania Trump are about to make a rare public appearance together, and they won’t be doing it alone. The presidential pair are stepping out for a double date with Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, next week, marking one of the few outings the First Couple has made during Trump’s second term.
Their destination? The opening night of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 11. The long-running musical has been a personal favorite of Trump’s for years. In fact, the President has repeatedly played the show’s iconic rebellion anthem, “Do You Hear the People Sing?” at campaign rallies and official events.
JUST PUBLISHED: Trump, Melania Set to Star at Star-Studded Kennedy Center Gala. 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…— The National Pulse (@TheNatPulse) June 3, 2025
“I love the songs, I love the play,” Trump once told Fox News Digital. “I think it’s great — we may extend it.”
But while the evening has all the makings of a red-carpet night out, behind the curtains, things are already getting heated. Nearly a dozen cast members have reportedly decided they won’t be performing on opening night, not with Trump and the Vances in the audience.
This upcoming production of Les Misérables is the first major event at the Kennedy Center since Trump controversially took over as chairman and abruptly dismantled the existing board.
Back in February, Trump made the announcement on Truth Social: “We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” He didn’t stop there. “The Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Still, even with all the sweeping changes, the numbers tell a different story. According to internal reports, ticket sales for the Kennedy Center in March and April took a nosedive, dropping by about 50% compared to the same period last year. Despite that, Trump stays bullish.
“The Kennedy Center is coming back,” he told Fox News. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”
And apparently, he’s not just talking about programming. Sources say the president is toying with the idea of renaming the institution altogether, to “the Trump–Kennedy Center.”
To defend the backlash from performers, Richard Grenell, whom Trump installed as president of the Kennedy Center after returning to the White House, had a few words of his own. He didn’t hold back.
“The Kennedy Center will no longer fund intolerance. Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed,” Grenell told NewsNation.
“In fact,” he continued, “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.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, the opening night is set to proceed with a full red carpet rollout. Officials have said that all attendees are encouraged to walk it, turning the performance into both a theatrical and political spectacle.
Whether Les Misérables will take center stage, or be overshadowed by the off-stage chaos, remains to be seen.
