Bill Maher to Receive Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize Amidst White House Dispute
The Kennedy Center announced on Thursday that comedian Bill Maher will be the recipient of the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, less than a week after the White House vehemently denied reports that he would receive the honor. The award ceremony will be held on June 28, 2026, and will stream exclusively on Netflix, which also carried the 2025 and 2024 Twain Prize ceremonies .
White House Denials and Shifting Positions
The initial report, published by The Atlantic on March 20, 2026, prompted a swift and forceful denial from the White House. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” while Communications Director Steven Cheung posted on X, calling the report “literally FAKE NEWS.” An administration official indicated that the situation changed following further discussions between the Kennedy Center and event organizers .
Maher’s Reaction and Career Highlights
Maher responded to the award announcement with characteristic humor, stating, “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.” He also quipped, “I’d just like to say that it is indeed humbling to secure anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.”
The comedian, host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” has received 42 Emmy nominations, winning his first in 2014 as an executive producer for the HBO series “VICE.” He previously hosted “Politically Incorrect” on Comedy Central and ABC from 1993 to 2002 .
A Fraught Relationship with President Trump
Maher’s relationship with President Trump has been complex. Following a dinner at the White House in March 2025, Maher described Trump as “gracious and measured” and “not fake.” However, last month, Trump criticized Maher on social media, calling him a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” and a “total waste of time.” Maher retorted that Trump “suffers from Bill Maher Derangement Syndrome” .
Kennedy Center Changes and the Twain Prize Legacy
The Kennedy Center has undergone changes under the current administration, being renamed “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The center is scheduled to close for two years starting July 4, 2026, for a “complete rebuilding” .
The Mark Twain Prize, established in 1998, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to American humor and commentary, mirroring the impact of Samuel Clemens, known as Mark Twain . Past recipients include Conan O’Brien, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Tina Fey.
As part of the award, Maher will receive a copy of an 1884 bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain sculpted by Karl Gerhardt .
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