Bill Maher accepts Twain humor prize as the Kennedy Center navigates
Trump-era upheaval
[June 29, 2026]
By STEVEN SLOAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Comedian Bill Maher was the guest of honor at the
Kennedy Center on Sunday night. But President Donald Trump's presence
wasn't far away.
Just moments after Maher began to accept the prestigious Mark Twain
Prize for American Humor, Matt Friend, a leading impersonator of the
president, took to the stage and, in Trump's voice, joked that he would
accept the award himself. Trump was a punchline for other comedians and
entertainers, including Whitney Cummings, Jay Leno and Woody Harrelson.
For the most part, the barbs weren't particularly biting. Cummings, for
instance, said that under Trump's influence, the Kennedy Center would
host “white ‘Hamilton.’” And once Friend left the stage, Maher largely
steered clear of hitting the president. The commentary was nonetheless
notable for unfolding in an iconic performing arts venue that Trump has
gone to extraordinary lengths to bend to his favor, leaving its future
in the coming years uncertain.
Accepting the award, Maher derided extremes in both political parties,
rejecting what he called “groupthink.”
“If you hang around long enough and create something important enough,
everyone hates you at some point,” Maher said.
The ceremony in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall wasn't purely
political. There were plenty of jokes about Maher's fondness for
marijuana, his rejection of organized religion and his penchant for
controversy, including comments he made shortly after the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks that led to the cancellation of his television show,
“Politically Incorrect.”
The Kennedy Center's uncertain future hangs over event
But the future of the Kennedy Center hung most prominently over the
event.
Shortly after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the
Republican president fired much of the center's leadership and installed
a board largely composed of allies. It named Trump as chairman and his
name was added to the building's iconic facade, prompting a legal battle
that became a proxy fight over the extent of the president's power.
Trump later said the Kennedy Center would close in July for a two-year
renovation. But U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper upended those
plans in May by ruling that Trump's name was illegally added to the
building, ordering it removed. The judge also has blocked the closure.
Trump's name has come down from the building, in compliance with the
judge's order. But the part of the building once covered with letters
spelling the president's name is now shrouded in a tarp. The full
closure is on hold. Lawyers for the Kennedy Center have said they are
not planning for now to build out programming.
Cooper has asked for an update next month on how long the tarp will
remain on the building. For now, the final event scheduled for the
Kennedy Center's Concert Hall is “The Freedom Gathering: A Musical
Celebration” on July 3.
The legal fight has turned into a saga that at points became fodder for
jokes at the Twain gala. At one point, Harrelson joked “we fixed that"
in a nod to the court order calling for Trump's name to be removed from
the building.
[to top of second column]
|
Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher motions to the audience
at the start of the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP
Photo/Kevin Wolf)
 Ahead of the ceremony, Lutnick said
Trump “wants to make this building sensational.”
But others were more skeptical. As he walked the red carpet ahead of
the ceremony, Leno said Trump’s moves at the Kennedy Center were
both “hilarious” and about “vanity.”
“It's not a war,” he said. “It's not people getting killed. It's not
antisemitism. It's a silly thing covering a name. I mean what's
funnier than that? I mean it's just like, you know it's high school
with money.”
Friend said he felt there was a “hunger games vibe” as he entered
the building.
“It's crazy,” he said of the changes Trump has pushed for.
Maher has a fraught relationship with Trump
Given Trump's sway over the Kennedy Center, Maher's selection for
the award was notable because the two men have long had a fraught
relationship.
Before he entered politics, Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit against
Maher in 2013 for breach of contract. Appearing on Leno’s “The
Tonight Show,” Maher said he would give $5 million to the charity of
Trump’s choice if Trump could prove he was not “the spawn of his
mother having sex with an orangutan.”
Trump claimed that when he provided his birth certificate, Maher did
not pay up, prompting the lawsuit. Trump ended up dropping it.
The Trump-Maher relationship exploded again earlier this year, when
the president claimed on social media that he wasted time sitting
down for a meal with the comedian last year. Lutnick noted that
Trump had written out all the critical comments he'd made about
Maher over the years and autographed the document.
“You've got to be able to laugh at it,” Lutnick said. “The president
can laugh at it. Bill Maher can laugh at it. And that's what makes
tonight great.”
Maher hosted Vice President JD Vance on his show heading into the
weekend. Vance, who is promoting a book, said he watches the show
and laughed at Maher's monologue “even though you were making fun of
me.” During the interview, Maher pressed Vance on the Iran war,
immigration enforcement and election conspiracy theories.
“You guys have two outcomes that an election can be,” Maher told
Vance. “Either we win or they cheated. That s—- has to stop.”
The Twain prize ceremony will air on Netflix on July 21.
___
Associated Press videojournalist John Carucci contributed to this
report.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
