Bill Maher Honored with Twain Prize at Kennedy Center.
The Mark Twain Prize ceremony took place on Sunday night at the Kennedy Center, where comedian Bill Maher received the award. President Donald Trump was not in attendance, though Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Republican strategist Paul Dans were present, alongside Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania.
During the ceremony, impersonator Matt Friend appeared in a Trump‑style voice and joked that the former president would accept the prize. Other performers, including Whitney Cummings, Jay Leno and Woody Harrelson, maintained a light‑hearted tone while making references to President Trump.
In 2025, after returning to the White House, Donald Trump replaced the leadership of the Kennedy Center, installed a board of allies, and added his name to the building’s facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the name was added illegally, ordered its removal, and blocked the planned two‑year closure of the center.
Following the court order, the former Trump signage was removed and the building was covered with a tarp. The Kennedy Center’s next public event, “The Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration,” is scheduled for July 3, and Maher’s Twain Prize appearance will be streamed on Netflix on July 21.
Maher and Trump have a documented history of disagreement, including a 2013 lawsuit that was later dropped, and the former president has publicly criticized the comedian in more recent years.