On June 11, 2025, President Donald Trump attended the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., even as the nation faced mounting tensions both abroad and at home.
Middle East on Edge: Trump Weighs Iran Strike
Behind the scenes, Trump was reportedly weighing whether to join Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear program. The decision followed Israeli airstrikes that killed top Iranian military officials and targeted nuclear facilities.
As Trump arrived at the theater, he told reporters, “They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place,” referring to the evacuation of U.S. military families from the Middle East.
Though Trump initially emphasized diplomacy, his tone shifted after Iran retaliated against Israel. He praised Israeli military strength on social media, writing, “The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it—with much more to come.”
Immigration Protests Intensify in Los Angeles
Meanwhile, protests against immigration raids continued for a fifth straight day in Los Angeles, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents.
California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a primetime address, condemning Trump’s deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. “Democracy is under assault before our eyes,” Newsom warned.
Trump, speaking earlier at Fort Bragg, compared the protests to a “foreign invasion”, claiming they were carried out by “rioters bearing foreign flags”.
Curfew and Mass Arrests in Downtown L.A.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass enacted a curfew in parts of downtown, and mass arrests were reported. Protesters decried the raids as inhumane, with one activist stating, “They’re arresting people at school, at graduation. That’s sad, and it’s heartbreaking.”
June 11, 2025, captured the dual pressures of Trump’s presidency: a potential military escalation in the Middle East and domestic unrest over immigration policy. As the president enjoyed a night at the theater, the nation braced for what could be a pivotal moment in global and national affairs.