Donald Trump hit a flat note Wednesday when pressed on “Les Misérables,” the musical he’s long praised as one of his favorites.
Appearing on the red carpet ahead of a performance of the show at the Kennedy Center — the typically bipartisan institution which Trump has purged and controversially made himself chair — the president was asked by a reporter: “Have you seen the musical before and do you identify more with Jean Valjean or Javert?”
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Valjean, the heroic protagonist, seeks redemption after 19 years in prison for stealing bread. Police inspector Javert, meanwhile, is utterly obsessed with law, order and punishment.
Trump dodged the question.
“That’s a tough one. The last part of that question, that’s tough, I think,” he said, before turning to his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and saying: “You better answer that one, honey.”
“I don’t know,” he added. “I’ve seen it, we’ve seen it a number of times. It’s fantastic. I thought it was just about our first choice. That’s why we got, and we have others coming — other great ones are coming.”
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Trump’s answer — or lack of one — quickly drew mockery on social media.
Some critics compared it to when Trump dodged a question about his favorite Bible verse. Others asked if he actually knew the “Les Mis” story, which centers on an anti-government uprising, at all.
Many suggested he would definitely identified as Javert.
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