programming from the Kennedy Center’s offerings. In public statements, the president had previously said, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA,” signaling his intent to reshape the venue’s cultural landscape according to his administration’s priorities.
The juxtaposition between the content of Les Misérables and current political events did not go unnoticed. The musical, centered on themes of revolution, social injustice, and the rise of the oppressed against authoritarian power, coincided with federal action earlier that week in Los Angeles, where authorities had intervened in local protests. Media commentators, cultural critics, and politicians quickly pointed out the irony: a story about barricades, uprisings, and collective resistance played out in a theater while government forces were deployed to quash civil unrest. This dynamic made the evening an inadvertent commentary on the relationship between art and real-world power structures.
Beyond the political optics, the president’s attendance was also tied to fundraising efforts. Trump highlighted that the evening had raised more than $10 million, positioning the appearance as both a political and financial success. Earlier in the year, the administration had implemented aContinue reading…
