President Trump on Wednesday attended the opening night performance of “Les Misérables,” one of the first shows to hit the stage at the Kennedy Center since Trump drastically overhauled the performing arts center’s operations.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended the show and a fundraiser in support of the center. A smattering of protesters greeted Trump outside the Kennedy Center, and a handful of performers skipped Wednesday’s performance in protest of Trump’s attendance.
“I couldn’t care less,” Trump said of the boycotts. “All I do is run the country well.”
The president said Wednesday’s fundraiser brought in $10 million for the Kennedy Center. The performance at the Kennedy Center’s nearly 2,400-seat Opera House was completely sold out, according to officials. Some “specialty seating” tickets, which included a meet-and-greet with the president, were being sold for as much as $2 million.
“We want to bring it back better than ever. As you know it needs a little help from the standpoint of age and fitness, but it’s going to be fantastic,” Trump said.
“Les Misérables” is one of the most major productions to hit the Kennedy Center’s stages since Trump overhauled the performing arts institution’s board in February and named himself its chair. The president, who had accused the Kennedy Center of being too “woke,” appointed his envoy for special missions Richard Grenell as its interim executive director.
The president went on to appoint a slew of political allies as board members, including chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo and senior White House official Sergio Gor.
The Kennedy Center earlier this month denied reports that it allegedly saw a 36-percent decline in sales subscriptions following Trump’s takeover of the arts hub.
The president didn’t step foot in the center during his first term in office, bucking tradition and declining to attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors event after several of the awards recipients criticized him.
Judy Kurtz contributed to this report.
Updated at 8:37 p.m. EDT.