President Trump boasted Wednesday that his fundraiser to raise money for the Kennedy Center raised $10 million for the venue and that he wasn’t bothered by performers skipping the night’s performance of “Les Miserables” in protest of his policies.
“I couldn’t care less,” Mr. Trump said about the protests.
“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,” he continued.
Some patrons paid $2 million to sit in a performance box, attend a VIP reception with Mr. Trump and take a photo with him before taking in the musical. Other patrons paid $100,000 to attend the performance, reception and receive a photo, but didn’t get the box seat, according to a report by The Washington Post.
The event was set up as a fundraiser for the Kennedy Center, which Mr. Trump took over in February.
As part of Mr. Trump’s overhaul of the center, formally the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he named himself chairman and pledged to rid it of programming he said was woke and too focused on leftist ideology and political correctness. He also named members to the board of trustees and will attend the taping of the Kennedy Center Honors in the fall.
Mr. Trump’s changes stunned the arts community, especially after firing the center’s longtime director and promising to change its programming as part of an effort to put his stamp on the national arts scene.
It’s the first time as president Mr. Trump has attended a Kennedy Center performance. He avoided the venue amid entertainment industry criticism of his policies during his first term and skipped the annual Kennedy Center Honors, which has been traditionally attended by presidents.
First lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance joined Mr. Trump for the musical. “Les Miserables” is the story of redemption in 19th-century France as a convict tries to pursue a new life.
Mr. Trump’s changes to the Kennedy Center have been met with applause from conservatives and resistance from liberals.
Some cast members told CNN and The New York Times that they planned to boycott the show, which could largely be performed with understudies. Wednesday is the show’s first preview and Thursday is opening night.
In March, the audience booed Mr. Vance and his wife when they arrived to hear the National Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Vance is among those Mr. Trump has appointed to the Kennedy Center board along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Fox News Channel hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham.
Sales of subscription packages have fallen since Mr. Trump took over, and the touring production of “Hamilton” canceled its run at the center in protest. The actor Issa Rae and singer Rhiannon Giddens also canceled scheduled appearances, and consulting musicians Ben Folds and Renee Fleming resigned.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.