impressive fundraising achievement, while critics saw a dissonance between the musical’s narrative of rebellion and contemporary government actions. The night functioned, in many ways, as a real-time cultural Rorschach test: it allowed individuals to project their own interpretations, fears, and hopes onto the intersection of art and politics. Les Misérables served as a mirror, reflecting both societal tensions and the enduring power of theater to provoke dialogue far beyond the stage.
Ultimately, Trump’s attendance reminded the public that in today’s climate, even a single night at the theater can reverberate across political, cultural, and social spheres. From applause to boos, from fundraising milestones to viral hand gestures, the Kennedy Center event captured the essence of the modern American spectacle: layered, contentious, and impossible to ignore.
