President Trump's appearance at the premiere of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center marked a significant moment amid political polarization, as it was the first Broadway musical since his administration began. Local drag performers, donning extravagant attire, filled seats boycotted by others protesting Trump's cultural influence. The initiative to attend arose quickly when a drag queen's friend decided to donate tickets. Inside, they received a warm reception from the Kennedy Center staff, contrasting with the divided responses from the audience, indicative of broader cultural tensions.
"I was nervous because we just had no idea what the reception was going to be, if we were even going to be allowed inside—even though there’s no official dress code for the Kennedy Center and we were ticketed," Hoot tells Washingtonian.
"The regular Kennedy Center staff were really warm in greeting us and thanking us for being there and telling us how gorgeous we were—I, of course, then told them how gorgeous they were, too."
"The presence of local drag performers at the premiere drew attention to the ongoing battle over cultural spaces during Trump’s administration, highlighting the stark contrasts in audience reactions."
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