Kathrine Frich
The attempt at humor wasn’t received kindly by users.
The attempt at humor wasn’t received kindly by users.
An Attempt at Humor
Vice President JD Vance’s attempt at humor during a night at the theater with Donald Trump didn’t land well online.
While attending Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, Vance made a joke about the show’s plot that quickly ignited criticism on social media.
The Joke That Started It All
Before the curtain rose, Vance posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had asked his wife, Usha, whether Les Misérables was “the one about a barber who kills people.”
When she laughed, he followed up with, “Apparently that’s a different thing called Sweeney Todd.”
The attempt at humor wasn’t received kindly by users, according to Irish Star.
Social Media: “This Is So Cringe”
Reactions were swift and cutting. “Could you be any more unaware?” one user replied, criticizing Vance for making light of art he clearly didn’t understand.
Others labeled the post “cringe,” while one person added, “Your wife is the only one who thinks you’re funny.”
Another wrote, “Usha was laughing at you. Not with you.”
Critics Slam Poor Timing and Tone
Many commenters were less focused on the joke and more on the optics: “Americans are being evacuated for war and our highest elected officials are watching plays,” one person wrote.
Another chimed in, “So the country appears to be melting down and you’re off to a show. Sounds like the priorities are where they should be.”
Les Misérables: A Show With a Message
Some users pointed out the irony of Vance and Trump attending Les Misérables, a musical rooted in themes of poverty, injustice, and revolution.
One person jabbed, “Maybe you’ll understand the plight of the lower class after seeing the show, JD. But your date, POTUS, is unable to comprehend things like that.”
Trump’s First Time at the Kennedy Center as President
The event marked Donald Trump’s first appearance at the Kennedy Center since his 2024 re-election.
He arrived with First Lady Melania Trump, walking the red carpet alongside Vance and Usha.
The audience’s reaction was mixed, some cheered, others booed, and one person shouted an expletive during intermission, prompting applause.
Drag Queens in the Crowd: A Quiet Protest
Several drag queens were spotted among the audience, interpreted by many as a subtle protest.
Trump has previously criticized the Kennedy Center for hosting too many drag shows, but his presence at this Broadway classic was seen by some as performative rather than appreciative.
A Red-Carpet Event With MAGA Flair
The night had a “MAGA goes to Broadway” vibe, with figures like Ric Grenell, Trump’s former interim Kennedy Center appointee, also in attendance.
The performance was loud, dramatic, and filled with revolutionary symbolism that may have been lost on the evening’s most high-profile guests.
Trump and Vance vs. Public Sentiment
Though the crowd at Les Mis was there for theater, the political weight of Trump and Vance’s presence was impossible to ignore.
The intersection of politics, culture, and commentary on inequality felt especially pointed given the subject matter of the musical, and the platform from which Vance made his joke.
As the social media storm continued, one commenter summed up the sentiment: “I don’t get what this tweet was supposed to accomplish?”