Bill Maher receives Mark Twain Prize amid political jabs at Donald Trump
Bill Maher accepted the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center during a ceremony that featured recurring jokes about the venue's recent legal and political conflicts.
Comedian Bill Maher accepted the 27th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The event occurred amidst a backdrop of legal and political tension regarding the administration of the venue, which has seen its leadership overhauled and its facade altered during the current presidency.
The Kennedy Center’s exterior is currently obscured by a large tarpaulin after a court order required the removal of the president's name, an action that served as a recurring theme for the evening’s presenters.
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Actor Woody Harrelson opened the night with a reference to the venue, congratulating Maher "ironically at the Trump Kennedy Center" before quipping, "No, all right, we fixed that." During her set, comedian Whitney Cummings joked about the venue’s new leadership, while impressionist Matt Friend interrupted Maher's acceptance speech by donning the persona of the president. Friend, in character, questioned why Maher was receiving the award, claiming he was more deserving of the honor.
The tension surrounding the event was preceded by early denials from the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and communications director Steven Cheung initially stating in March that the award announcement was "fake news." Maher, who has maintained a complicated relationship with the president that included a 2025 White House dinner, told reporters on the red carpet that he was not surprised by the administration's resistance. He noted that he had brought a printed list of nearly 60 insults the president had directed at him, which the president reportedly signed with humor.
Despite the atmosphere, the ceremony honored Maher’s 33-year career, which includes his time on Politically Incorrect
and his current work on Real Time with Bill Maher
. Reflecting on his career during his acceptance, Maher pushed back against political "groupthink."
"If you hang around long enough and create something important enough, everyone hates you at some point."
Bill Maher, Honoree, via AP News
The event also served as a moment for peers to evaluate Maher’s contribution to comedy. Louis C.K. Praised Maher’s willingness to invite guests despite public controversy, while Arianna Huffington characterized Maher as a defender of free speech whose perspective aligns with the provocative spirit of Mark Twain. Conversely, some attendees, such as Jay Leno, characterized the internal conflict at the Kennedy Center as "high school with money."
Kennedy Center Developments: A Timeline of Recent Events
- January 2025: The president installs a new board and assumes the position of chairman at the Kennedy Center.
- May 2026: U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rules the addition of the president's name to the building was illegal and blocks the planned two-year closure.
- June 13, 2026: Workers remove the president's name from the facade, leaving the area covered by a tarpaulin.
- June 28, 2026: The 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor takes place at the venue.
- July 3, 2026: Scheduled final event for the current Concert Hall season.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who attended the gala, maintained that the administration remains committed to the building’s future, stating that the president "wants to make this building sensational." Meanwhile, legal proceedings continue, with Judge Cooper requesting updates next month regarding the duration of the current exterior modifications.
The ceremony, which featured a musical performance by John Mellencamp, is scheduled for broadcast on Netflix on July 21.
