Drag performers received a warm welcome while President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were met with boos at opening night of Les Misérables at Washington’s Kennedy Centre this week — marking a moment of defiant pride and cultural resistance.
Queens Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé, Vagenesis, and Mari Con Carne arrived in full drag to fanfare, while Trump and Melania faced a shower of boos, briefly drowned out by chants of “U‑S‑A.”
Earlier this year, Trump appointed himself board chair of the Kennedy Centre, criticising its “woke” programming and vowing to remove trustees who disagreed with his vision. Although he admitted to never having attended any performances, he called some shows “a disgrace.” Under his direction, a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. was abruptly cancelled, and several artists pulled their association in protest.
“You Can’t Erase Us from Your Presence”
For the drag performers, attending the show wasn’t just a night out — it was a statement.
“Knowing [Trump] would be there made my attendance more crucial,” said Marie Con Carne (aka Mari Con Carne). “You can prevent us from performing on your stages, but you can’t erase us from your presence.”
“As an immigrant, I wanted it to be known that we aren’t going anywhere and we will face you head-on with every ounce of courage that we have.”
They received tickets donated through Qommittee, a group calling for donor pressure to expose censorship and restore artistic independence.
Pride Meets Protest in the Arts
Their presence — elegant and unapologetic — capped a weekend of broader protest efforts. Demonstrations planned across the U.S. oppose Trump’s policies and large-scale military parade on his 79th birthday, which conflict with the Kennedy episode and Trump’s “Defending Women from Gender Ideology” executive order targeting trans rights.
Tara Hoot summed it up:
“Showing up to the Kennedy Centre with my fellow drag stars allowed me to live those words [of being brave, strong, and true to yourself] for all to see.”
Ricky Rosé, who has previously performed at the venue, reflected on its founding goals.
“It was an honour to support the cast of Les Misérables… and take up space despite this administration’s attempt to erase us.”
