Local activists and artists gathered on January 29, 2026, in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to protest the premiere of the controversial documentary Melania. This film, which has become one of the most expensive nonfiction acquisitions in history, reportedly cost $75 million, with approximately $28 million directed to the Trump family. Dressed in 18th-century French court attire, around 40 members of grassroots organizations Free DC and Hands Off the Arts voiced their disapproval of the film, which has received critical backlash.
Wearing extravagant wigs and adorned with faux jewels, the demonstrators held signs that included phrases such as “Let them eat Whole Foods,” “Let them eat cake,” and “Authoritarianism — get it faster with Prime.” They gathered around a cardboard cake and brandished plastic champagne glasses, creating a theatrical atmosphere. An organizer, using a megaphone, exclaimed, “When loan forgiveness is cut, when crop prices soar and people have to choose between rent and medications and food, our dear queen Melania says ‘Let them eat cake.’”
The protest took place just days before President Donald Trump announced that the Kennedy Center, which now bears his name, would undergo a two-year renovation starting in July. Originally planned for the Kennedy Center Plaza, the protest was relocated to Triangle Park due to security measures, including fences erected by police and the Secret Service. The activists shouted at black armored SUVs passing by, drawing attention to their cause.
Keya Chatterjee, executive director of Free DC, emphasized the significance of using Marie Antoinette as a symbol during the protest. “The people behind this, Bezos and Trump, are putting on this lavish display at a cultural center that they took over to be theirs — that is ours, to be clear, paid for by the people as a memorial to a president who was killed,” she stated. Chatterjee’s remarks highlighted the contrast between the extravagant film premiere and the struggles faced by everyday citizens.
The parallels between Trump’s administration and the history of Marie Antoinette have not gone unnoticed. In October 2025, Trump’s White House refurbishments were referred to as a “Versailles on the Potomac.” Just a month later, during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, California Governor Gavin Newsom shared an AI-generated image depicting Trump as Marie Antoinette, furthering the critique of the administration’s priorities.
Chatterjee also referenced the Otpor movement in Serbia, which used street theater and creative protest to oppose the regime of Slobodan Milošević. “They really want us to be afraid,” she remarked, noting the severe tactics employed to suppress dissent. By employing art and humor, Chatterjee believes activists can counteract fear and isolation.
The collaboration between Free DC and Hands Off the Arts is part of a broader initiative to keep cultural spaces free from governmental control. Mallory Miller, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, expressed the importance of supporting artists and creators in their efforts to stand up against the current administration. “It’s really important that Hands Off the Arts stands in solidarity with the artists and creators, amateur or professional or otherwise,” she stated.
The protest featured a colorful array of costumes, including a woman dressed as a Hamburglar version of Melania and a man in a long pink gown paired with a tactical vest labeled “Noem.” Local drag queen Tara Hoot also participated, showcasing the diverse expressions of dissent.
Although the protest concluded approximately 20 minutes early due to the cold, organizers provided attendees with playful Playbills for a fictional production titled “Melanie Antoinette,” featuring the First Lady in a towering wig. Chatterjee concluded, “We are right now in our sixth month of a military occupation of the capital of this country, but what they don’t really understand is that this is our home. They can’t have it. This is our place, and so our ability to use art to take up space here is what actually keeps the capital of this country in the hands of the people.”
