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yesterday

Les Misérables Cast Plans Boycott of Trump-Attended Kennedy Center Performance

President Trump’s June 11 fundraiser and attendance at the Kennedy Center spark artist protests, deepening cultural tensions under his leadership.

The Kennedy Center is seen in August 2019 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump looks down from the Presidential Box in the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as he participates in a guided tour and leads a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • At least 10 to 12 cast members of Les Misérables plan to boycott the June 11 performance at the Kennedy Center, coinciding with a fundraiser attended by President Trump.
  • The boycott follows Trump’s February takeover of the Kennedy Center, where he installed himself as chairman and replaced board members with loyalists.
  • Interim director Richard Grenell criticized the boycott, calling the performers 'vapid and intolerant' and stating they would not be welcomed back.
  • The Kennedy Center faces financial challenges, with Trump pursuing a $256.7 million federal repair appropriation and reportedly discussing a potential CBS settlement to aid funding.
  • Artists including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, and Shonda Rhimes have canceled events or severed ties with the venue, citing concerns over its politicization.