The Kennedy Center has announced that comedian and political commentator Bill Maher will be honored with the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, settling recent public disagreement over whether he would be receiving the award. Maher is set to accept the prize on June 28, shortly before the venue temporarily closes for major renovations expected to last about two years.
The announcement comes after White House officials had previously dismissed reports of Maher’s selection, calling it “fake news.” He has often clashed with President Trump, though he also attended a private White House dinner in March 2025. Last month, Trump criticized Maher on social media, calling him “this jerk” and saying it “was a total waste of time” to host him. The Kennedy Center, now governed by a board aligned with Pres. Trump, has undergone leadership changes and remains at the center of ongoing legal disputes tied to its restructuring and planned closure.
Maher, known for his sharp political satire, joked that he “just had the award explained to me, and apparently it’s like an Emmy, except I win.” He added that it is “humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain,” a writer long known for challenging social norms.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, shared in a statement: “For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy. For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse — one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
The Mark Twain Prize, first established in 1998, honors individuals who have made a significant impact on American humor and commentary, echoing the spirit of Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain. Past recipients include David Letterman, Carol Burnett, Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Tina Fey.
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