TV host and comic Bill Maher has been chosen to receive the celebrated Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, two sources shut to the Kennedy Center advised NCS.
Maher has been advised he has been chosen for the respect, however has not but accepted, one supply mentioned. The comic is alleged to be critically contemplating it, the individual added.
The annual award, which is given by the Kennedy Center, honors humorists and comedy. Past recipients have included Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart and Adam Sandler. A gala presenting the award brings collectively comedians and entertainers, and is often held on the Kennedy Center, which now bears Trump’s identify on its facade because the president has sought to remake the humanities establishment in his picture. This yr’s award gala would be the final on the Kennedy Center earlier than it closes its doorways for a large two-year renovation.
Maher has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump’s insurance policies on his HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher,” and has, at occasions, been a goal of Trump’s ire. In a posting spree earlier this month, Trump posted seven articles crucial of Maher to his Truth Social platform, and final month known as Maher a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT.” (HBO and NCS are each a part of Warner Brothers Discovery.)
But the 2 males had dinner collectively in 2025 on the White House, organized to give them a chance to communicate instantly with one another.
The announcement has not been made official but by the Kennedy Center.
The information was first reported by the Atlantic.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed the reporting, writing on X that reviews of Maher’s honor are “Literally FAKE NEWS.” NCS has requested Maher’s consultant and the White House for remark.
NCS’s DJ Judd and Liam Reilly contributed to this report.