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Comedian Bill Maher will be awarded Mark Twain humor prize despite earlier White House denials
Bill Maher will receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize at the Trump-Kennedy Center despite initial White House denials; the event will stream on Netflix and generates $5.2 million in revenue.
- The Kennedy Center confirmed Thursday that comedian Bill Maher will receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on June 28, 2026, with the ceremony held at the Trump Kennedy Center Concert Hall and streamed on Netflix.
- White House officials previously denied the selection, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the report 'fake news' and Communications Director Steven Cheung labeling it 'literally FAKE NEWS' on social media last week.
- The award announcement follows a fraught history between Maher and President Donald Trump, who recently insulted the host as a 'highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT' despite previously hosting him at the White House for dinner.
- Maher responded to the confirmation in a statement, joking that he 'just had the award explained to me, and apparently it's like an Emmy, except I win.'
- For more than 25 years, Maher has shaped American political discourse on television, with the Kennedy Center noting he has set the boundaries of where 'funny, political talk can go on American television.
51 Articles
51 Articles
Bill Maher will win the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain humour prize following White House denial
Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center said Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied that the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, would win it.
After 'Fake News' Hubbub, Bill Maher Gets Mark Twain Prize from Trump-Kennedy Center
After initial reports were dismissed by Team Trump as "fake news" (or perhaps premature news), Politico's Daniel Lippman reports comedian and HBO Real Time host Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize from the Trump-Kennedy Center prize in June in a show made for Netflix in one of the center's last public events before it shuts down for a planned two-year renovation. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung tweeted "Literally FAKE NEWS" when The Atlan…
Bill Maher Is Mark Twain Prize Winner, Despite WH Denials
Bill Maher is getting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor after all, despite the Trump White House insisting just days ago that he wasn't. The Kennedy Center on Thursday named the Real Time host as the 27th recipient of its top comedy honor, confirming a report the Trump administration...
Bill Maher will win the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain humor prize following White House denial
Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center said Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied that the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with President Donald Trump, would win it.
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