A chorus of loud boos and cheers greeted President Donald Trump on Wednesday night at the newly MAGAfied John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Trump was set to watch "Les Misérables."
Video posted on X by Reuters' White House Correspondent Jeff Mason showed Trump take his seat in the direct center of the second level of the theater. As Trump waved to fellow attendees, loud cheers erupted, followed by dueling — and equally loud — boos.
The crowd broke out into chants of "U.S.A." as the president took his seat.
Trump dismissed the entire board of trustees for the Kennedy Center, including its long-serving chair. He then appointed himself as chairman in February and installed Richard Grenell as interim executive director and later president.
Several actors from the touring production of "Les Misérables" planned to boycott the performance at the Kennedy Center over Trump and Vice President JD Vance's appearance. Wednesday marked Trump's first visit to the center since he took control of the institution and vowed to do away with so-called "woke" programming, such as drag shows.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
.@realDonaldTrump gets cheered and booed at the Kennedy Center. pic.twitter.com/KgLDhqceLD
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) June 11, 2025