CNN's Inside Politics panel couldn't help but point out the irony of President Donald Trump declaring his love for the Broadway show "Les Miserables" as U.S. Marines arrived in Los Angeles at his direction to keep American citizens in line.
Host Dana Bash invoked lyrics from the musical to set up the discussion.
"President Trump 'dreamed a dream' of a new Kennedy Center. He replaced its entire board and named himself chairman, and tonight returns for opening night of the Broadway classic 'Les Miz.' It's a story, of course, of uprising — a rebellion by the poor. He'll look down from the presidential balcony. He'll 'hear the people sing.' But will there be empty seats at empty tables?"
Bash said that at least 10 of the actors opted not to perform for President Trump during Wednesday night's show. She then read from an article by panelist Jeff Mason pointing out Trump's lack of awareness of the optics.
"Trump's appearance at 'Les Miserables' — a show about citizens rising up against their government — comes just days after he sent U.S. Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles," Bash read.
"You actually couldn't script this any better," Mason said. "I mean, the underscore of of power, politics, culture, division that will be in that room tonight will be both on the stage and in the audience. There are maybe about 200 people there who are donors coming to a fundraiser beforehand. But the rest of the roughly 2,300-seat theater was sold to the public and to subscribers."
Mason recounted how Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife were booed when they attended a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra.
"There are likely to be some kind of reaction to President Trump tonight because of everything that has been going on," Mason said.
Watch the clip below via CNN or click the link.