TV host Bill Maher will receive the distinguished Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center introduced on Thursday — simply days after the White House denied that the comic can be awarded the glory.
The annual award, which is given by the Kennedy Center, will likely be offered to Maher on June 28, proper earlier than the performing arts middle closes for a two-year renovation. The middle has confronted slumping gross sales and cancellations from performers in response to President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the establishment, which has included a controversial name change.
“Thank you to the Mark Twain people: I just had the award explained to me, and apparently it’s like an Emmy, except I win,” Maher quipped in a press release. “I’d just like to say that it is indeed humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.”
Following reports final week that Maher would receive the Mark Twain Prize, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed NCS, “This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award.”
Maher has been a vocal critic of Trump’s insurance policies on his HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher.” (The present can also be offered on NCS on Saturdays. HBO and NCS are each a part of Warner Bros. Discovery.) He has, at occasions, been a goal of Trump’s ire but in addition drew criticism after having dinner with Trump and praising him.
In Thursday’s announcement, Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vp of public relations, acknowledged Maher’s “politically incorrect” jokes.
“For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” mentioned Daravi. “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse – one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
Trump and Maher’s dinner collectively was in 2025 at the White House. It was organized by the entertainer Kid Rock to give them a chance to converse straight.
However, regardless of happening his present to tout Trump after the dinner, their relationship has remained tense, with Trump criticizing Maher on his Truth Social platform in latest weeks, together with calling the comic a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” last month.
Past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize embrace Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart and Adam Sandler. A gala to current the award, sometimes held at the Kennedy Center, brings collectively comedians and entertainers.