Since its debut on Broadway on Aug. 6, 2015, “Hamilton” has become a worldwide phenomenon. Wanting to tell the story of one of the forgotten founding fathers, Lin-Manuel Miranda brought together actors who represented America now in order to tell the story of America’s birth. The casting of multiracial actors in a musical about America’s history, in the midst of heated debates about immigration, turned “Hamilton” into something more than a musical — it became a political statement. Making the key focus of America’s history an immigrant rising up from the bottom, “Hamilton” made sure we would never forget the foundation of our democracy.
Throughout the years, “Hamilton” has used its platform to disseminate the political message that Miranda originally wanted to get across, including memorable performances that took a stance on political issues. In their 2016 Tony performance, the cast of “Hamilton” removed the use of firearms as props due to the deadly shooting in Orlando that occurred before the awards show, denouncing gun violence by taking them out of the hands of the Founding Fathers themselves.
“Hamilton” has remained a perpetual political vehicle, and its political relevance has skyrocketed in 2025, with its main message being that the fight for justice and democracy is ongoing. And after President Donald Trump’s reelection last fall, many facets of our democracy have come under fire.
“Hamilton” tells the story of how the colonists revolted against a government that levied heavy taxes on them and wielded excessive power over its citizens. Currently, Trump has implemented sweeping tariffs that negatively impact Americans today and has dispatched the National Guard against protesters in Los Angeles. The revival of “Hamilton” in 2025 is a crucial step towards recognizing how we have fallen back into the tyranny that our forefathers fought to rid themselves of. This is not the nation they sacrificed their lives for.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump began his war on diversity, stating that he was ending the “tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion.” Many executive orders were passed in order to dismantle DEI programs, with Secretary of Defense (now Secretary of War) Pete Hegseth stating that anyone who did not comply with the anti-DEI initiatives would “no longer work” in his department.
Additionally, Trump has come back stronger than ever with his anti-immigrant initiatives this year. On June 6, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers began raiding cities around Los Angeles and arresting anyone thought to be involved in illegal immigration. Protests began across Los Angeles against ICE, resulting in federal law enforcement intervention. On Sept. 8, the Supreme Court overruled a federal judge’s order and allowed ICE to question people about their immigration status based on criteria such as appearing Latino or speaking Spanish.
But the people haven’t remained silent. Along with the Los Angeles protests, citizens across the nation gathered on June 14, Trump’s birthday, to protest the dismantling of democracy in what was dubbed the “No Kings” protest. Almost 4-6 million people — nearly 2% of the U.S. population — took to the streets to protest against Trump. This clearly isn’t the first time the American people have protested against a figure regarded as a tyrannical wannabe-monarch. The history of our nation has never been more relevant than now — we need to remember what we built this country upon.
During the 2025 Tony Awards, the original cast of “Hamilton” came out on stage dressed in funeral black, with their hands positioned over their hearts as a sign of mourning. The only person dressed in color was King George III, who was adorned in bright red clothing — a color associated with MAGA. It was as if the Founding Fathers were mourning the loss of democracy, while the king rejoiced.
By bringing “Hamilton” to theaters nationwide for the ten-year anniversary, Miranda and his team are ensuring that their message of what democracy truly means is seen and heard in the most prominent way possible.
The inclusion of interviews with the original cast in the filmed version of the musical reinforces the idea that this rerelease is not just a celebration of 10 years of “Hamilton,” but a rallying cry to protect the rights of the American people, which are being stripped away from them under the current administration. The acknowledgment of the musical’s sociopolitical power in these interviews is what cements this rerelease as a political statement.
Actor Daveed Diggs, famous for the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, commented that the original rise of Hamilton was because “the world decided [it] was the thing everybody needed at the moment.” And while this was true back in 2016, “Hamilton” has once again become essential.
“Hamilton” is a musical about recognizing who we have forgotten in the history of our nation. From its opening lines, it reminded us that we are first and foremost a country built on immigrants. Yet, it seems in the decade since “Hamilton” first debuted, and even more so during Trump’s second presidency, our history has been abandoned — our democracy sacrificed — under the guise of protecting American citizens. The musical’s ten-year anniversary could not have come at a better time. We are in dire need of the same political outcry that occurred when “Hamilton” took the nation by storm in 2015, and in a cruel twist of fate, the same outrage that empowered us to fight against tyranny in 1776.
