WASHINGTON — Comedian Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Kennedy Center. Previous recipients of the award, which has been presented since 1998, include Conan O'Brien, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Letterman, Carol Burnett, and Tina Fey. Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, and Jay Leno are anticipated to attend the ceremony.

In January 2025, after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump replaced much of the Kennedy Center's leadership and appointed a board primarily consisting of allies. His name was subsequently added to the building's facade, and the board named him as chairman. Judge Christopher Cooper of the U.S. District Court ruled in May 2026 that the addition of Trump's name to the building was illegal and mandated its removal. He also blocked the planned closure of the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation, a closure that Trump had announced. Following the court order, Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Kennedy Center building. The section of the facade that previously displayed his name is now covered by a tarp. Lawyers for the Kennedy Center stated in a court filing this month that the court order did not obligate the Board to reschedule canceled programming or seek new programming. Judge Cooper has requested an update next month regarding the duration the tarp will remain on the building. The last scheduled event for the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall is "The Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration" on July 3, 2026.

Donald Trump sued Bill Maher for $5 million in 2013 for breach of contract, though this lawsuit was later dropped. Earlier this year, Trump stated on social media that he had met with Maher the previous year, writing online, "He came into the famed Oval Office much different than I thought he would be. He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself." Maher addressed the interaction on his April 11, 2026, episode of "Real Time," describing Trump as "gracious and measured." The Kennedy Center referred to Maher in March as someone who has influenced American comedy "one politically incorrect joke at a time." Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt also called the initial report of Maher winning the award "fake news" and stated that Maher "will NOT be getting this award."

Why It Matters

The upcoming Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony for Bill Maher highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding political influence at the Kennedy Center. Donald Trump's actions in early 2025, including the removal of leadership and installation of allies, led to a federal court ruling in May 2026 that reversed some of these changes. The dispute reflects broader concerns regarding the independence and governance of cultural institutions. The conflicting statements from White House officials and the Kennedy Center's ongoing legal processes indicate a persistent disagreement over the institution's direction and programming decisions.