Trump demands apology for ‘Hamilton’ cast’s statement

VP-elect Mike Pence attended the musical in Manhattan on Friday night.

By Ros Krasny

Bloomberg News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Donald Trump demanded an apology from the cast of “Hamilton” after Vice President-elect Mike Pence, was singled out after a performance of the Broadway hit.

“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!” Trump said Saturday in a Twitter post.

Pence attended the musical, about the life of Alexander Hamilton, in Manhattan Friday night. As the vice president-elect was leaving the theater during the curtain call, Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor who played Aaron Burr, thanked Pence for attending, and said, “we hope you will hear us out.”

Dixon then read a prepared statement on behalf of the multiracial, multicultural cast and crew of the show, which won 11 Tony Awards this year.

“We, sir — we — are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” Dixon said. “We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf all of us.”

Trump, who is spending the weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J., was busy on Twitter Saturday morning.

“The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” he posted.

Trump also addressed his decision Friday to pay $25 million to settle claims that his defunct Trump University cheated more than 6,000 students with false promises of teaching them his real estate secrets. The deal allows Trump to avoid a trial that was to start in 10 days.

“The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!” he posted.