On June 11, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended “Les Misérables” at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—his first return to the venue since reshaping its leadership and programming. The reception inside the theater mirrored the show’s themes of power and protest: a loud blend of applause, chants, and boos as the couple appeared in the presidential box.As the lights rose at intermission, the atmosphere turned combative. Shouts—some profane, some supportive—ricocheted around the hall. Chants of “U.S.A.” answered a wave of boos; Trump responded with a three-pump fist, a gesture his supporters know well. Multiple outlets characterized the overall crowd reaction as a mix of cheers and jeers, reflecting the polarized views surrounding both the production and the presidency.In the run-up to the performance, reports indicated that some members of the Les Mis company chose to sit outthe evening—an option the production reportedly allowed—citing concerns or objections to the presidential attendance. The theater also drew attention for the presence of drag performers in donated seats from critical ticket-holders, a pointed counter-image given Trump’s earlier vows to purge what he called “woke” fare from the Center’s slate.