Behind the tarp covering the facade that still covers the original name of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, the center’s concert hall lit up with laughter during Bill Maher’s remarks as he received the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Sunday evening.
The award, named in honor of the great American humorist, was presented at a gala event featuring a group of Maher’s friends in politics and comedy, including Whitney Cummings, Louis CK, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Stephen A. Smith, Jay Leno, and the show concluded with a live performance by John Mellencamp.
Maher and his fellow comedians cracked jokes and exchanged kind words against the backdrop of the dramatic controversies surrounding the event (and the storied institution). Maher received this prestigious award earlier this year. However, in March, Atlantic You mentioned that the Trump administration may not have been supportive of this choice. White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said, “This is fake news. Bill Maher will not receive this award.”
The Kennedy Center confirmed shortly after that Maher would be honored with the award.
“I’m kind of like Mark Twain,” Maher joked on the red carpet before the show. On stage, Maher has spoken about his ability to analyze social discourse and current events, honing his craft on HBO, and now in front of an eager live audience looking for him to misrepresent the administration in real time — something he has largely avoided.
Instead, he spent much of his time philosophizing about his influence and work, pinning it on those in power regardless of where they might sit or who he represented, and thanking the “haters” — even though that may have accounted for him winning only one of the 42 Emmy nominations he received. Maher also styled himself after Toto from Wizard of OzSaying that he “raises the curtain and exposes everyone who is fake.”
After accepting the award from friend, fellow comedian and fellow Leno, Maher was briefly shouted down by a man who looked just like President Trump, comedian and impersonator Matt Friend, who quickly joined Maher on stage and swapped jokes.
The most harsh criticism came from the editorial, Cummings, who began the program with mild comments about Maher and Trump. “Bill has had a very committed and very toxic relationship with the United States,” she said. “He is a warrior for free speech — especially when someone is in the middle of a sentence.” She also suggested that since President Trump is the head of the Kennedy Center, future audiences “will enjoy a three-month period of”white Hamilton“”
Maher was also preceded by close friend Harrelson, who took a more complimentary tone. He also pointed to the cannabis dispensary he owns with Maher and the quality of its product. Marijuana served as a dividing line between other speakers, like ESPN’s Smith, who talked about appearing on Maher’s podcast, and Leno, who spoke directly to Maher: “You are what you smoke.”
Beyond the controversy surrounding the event, the center’s future hangs precariously in the balance. Trump, who notably remains the center’s president, has tried to change the name of the institution to include his name, and announced July 5 as the date the place will close for major renovations. In a lawsuit in May, a federal judge criticized the Trump administration’s effort to change the name, calling it illegal and blocking the administration from closing the Kennedy Center for renovation for two years. The Center has appealed the decision. The calendar after the Twain Award event remains slim, counting only one event in the concert hall, and a handful of free outdoor classic film screenings in the park. There are no events scheduled for August and beyond.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose wife sits on the Kennedy Center board and stood beaming at his side, said the board must ultimately decide the building’s fate, but Trump may also play a role. “The president is not only the commander in chief, he is the supreme builder.”
Although just an impersonator joining Maher on stage, the real Trump and Maher have a long history. In 2013, Trump sued Maher for breach of contract over an inappropriate comment on The Tonight Show. The two also met at a White House dinner in 2025 facilitated by Kid Rock. Earlier this year, Trump posted on Truth Social that Maher’s interview was a “total waste of time.” On Friday night, Maher hosted Vice President J.D. Vance on his HBO talk show, at present. While Maher noted that he could vote for either Democrat or Republican in 2028, he also criticized Vance for Trump’s refusal to concede in 2020.
Maher started as a comedian in 1979, and rose to fame when he became a show host Politically incorrect on Comedy Central and ABC from 1993 to 2002. He has hosted at present For more than 20 years. He’s no stranger to awards either, having received 42 Emmy nominations. Maher also wrote five books, the latest of which is, What this comedian said will shock you. In 2022, Maher moved into new media and launched a podcast, which often goes viral for the wrong reasons, Random Club with Bill Maher.
Despite Maher’s penchant for political guests on his various platforms, the only senator present on Sunday was John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. On the red carpet, Fetterman acknowledged that similar infrastructure issues exist throughout the city. “I don’t know why people were talking about the algae… the things to focus on are much more important than the name on the building here. I will never interrupt [the center].
Aside from Maher and Leno, the other comedians to receive a lifetime achievement award were O’Brien last year, as well as Dave Chappelle, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jon Stewart.
The Mark Twain Award ceremony will stream on Netflix on July 21.
