JD Vance mocked for Les Misérables joke before Kennedy Center visit with Trump
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance speaks about the economy, during a visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US on August 19, 2024. Photo Reuters
Vice President JD Vance faced swift and widespread backlash online after making a joke about the musical Les Misérables ahead of a performance at the Kennedy Center, which he attended alongside President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and his wife, Usha Vance.
About to see Les Miserables with POTUS at the Kennedy Center.
Me to Usha: so what’s this about? A barber who kills people?
Usha; [hysterical laughter]Shortly before the show, Vance posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Me to Usha: so what’s this about? A barber who kills people?”—confusing Les Misérables with Sweeney Todd. In a follow-up post, he clarified: “That’s apparently a different thing called ‘Sweeney Todd.’”
It should be illegal to be this incredibly cringe. https://t.co/szqfixG42O pic.twitter.com/oW1DGsAkED
The remark, intended as a light-hearted joke, was widely panned as disingenuous and tone-deaf. Many online critics noted the irony of a high-ranking government official appearing unaware of the plot of Les Misérables—a story centered on injustice, state repression, and resistance. Some speculated that Vance was downplaying his education and cultural awareness to appeal to a more populist image.
I’m sorry, the only people who would pretend to confuse Sweeney Todd for Les Mis are people who are super into musicals and uncomfortable admitting it. pic.twitter.com/k5sow99bmf
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) June 12, 2025the idea that knowing Sweeney Todd is more normal (and presumably straighter?) is very funny https://t.co/A78xccJ7Tf
— Alex Shephard (@alex_shephard) June 11, 2025About to see Les Miserables with POTUS at the Kennedy Center.
Me to Usha: so what’s this about? A barber who kills people?
Usha; [hysterical laughter]One user wrote, “Oh for god’s sake you went to YALE, give it a rest,” while another commented, “You can drop the ‘Appalachian hillbilly’ act.” Others questioned how someone familiar with the plot of Sweeney Todd could be completely unaware of Les Misérables, a cornerstone of Western literature and theater.
Dr. Aurelia Attal-Juncqua noted, “Les Misérables is a searing indictment of authoritarianism... resistance and mercy become acts of salvation.”
That s not cute. Les Misérables is a searing indictment of authoritarianism, showing how state repression and inequality crush lives - and how resistance and mercy become acts of salvation. https://t.co/S70kDqRjlX
While Vance’s tweet may have aimed to appear relatable, the response suggests it struck a nerve. The backlash highlights ongoing scrutiny of how public figures construct authenticity—and the consequences when those attempts miss the mark.
Omg JD is relatable lololololol
(Love that they’re going to a musical while our rights are actively being restricted and they try to ruin lives! It’s almost like they’re trying to make us “les miserables”) https://t.co/JxKxOuaTY8