Photos of drag queens preparing to attend ‘Les Miserables’ at Kennedy Center, despite Trump
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mari Con Carne put on their make-up, wig and gown before attending “Les Miserables” at the Kennedy Center. Along with other Washington-based drag queens Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis, they attended the show despite complaints by President Donald Trump that the Kennedy Center had hosted too many drag shows in the past.
Trump, who also attended the performance, has replaced the Kennedy Center’s president and board with loyalists, had himself named chairman and pledged to overhaul programming he calls “woke” and too focused on leftist ideology.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk to the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington to attend a performance of Les Miserables, that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk to the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington to attend a performance of Les Miserables, that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne writes their sisters phone number in Sharpie on their arm before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, a performance that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania were also attending, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne writes their sisters phone number in Sharpie on their arm before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, a performance that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania were also attending, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their coat before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their coat before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their wig before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their wig before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot greets Mari Con Carne, not pictured, before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot greets Mari Con Carne, not pictured, before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in also attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in also attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A passerby photographs Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé and Maria Con Carne outside the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, before they attend Les Miserables. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending the performance. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A passerby photographs Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé and Maria Con Carne outside the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, before they attend Les Miserables. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending the performance. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their wig before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne puts on their wig before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Polly Jordan walk past Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé, Vagenesis and Maria Con Carne outside the Kennedy Center, to attend Les Miserables, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Polly Jordan walk past Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosé, Vagenesis and Maria Con Carne outside the Kennedy Center, to attend Les Miserables, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also attending. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to view opening night of “Les Miserables,” at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to view opening night of “Les Miserables,” at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Mari Con Carne applies their makeup before attending Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in drag, on the night that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were also in attendance, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk to the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, to attend Les Miserables. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tara Hoot, Maria Con Carne, Ricky Rosé and Vagenesis walk to the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington, to attend Les Miserables. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)