Trending Now - Bill Maher Claims Trump Attempted to Thwart His Kennedy Honor
WHO:
Bill Maher, comedian and host of Real Time With Bill Maher
President Trump, 45th President of the United States
Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
Laura Coates, CNN host
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN star
WHAT:
Bill Maher stated, “We have reached a compromise. The compromise is that I am going to get it and then I’m going to give it to [President Donald Trump],” during his monologue on March 27, 2026.
Maher expressed that he is “not looking for a fight” nor is he mad at Trump for the back and forth regarding the award.
Maher read aloud a list of insults from Trump during his show, including terms like “low ratings lightweight,” “pathetic, bloated sleaze bag,” and “crazy maniac,” while accepting the Mark Twain Prize.
Bill Maher stated, “I respect the move. Keep the game going, baby, OK, I’m all about engagement. Disengagement gets you nothing,” regarding President Trump's attempts to block his award.
Maher referred to a 2013 lawsuit where Trump sued him for comments made on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, saying, “Me and the president, we have a complicated relationship that goes back to the orangutan lawsuit.”
Maher read aloud a list of insults from Trump, including terms like “low ratings lightweight,” “pathetic, bloated sleaze bag,” and “crazy maniac,” during his show.
Bill Maher will receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center.
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 28, 2026.
Maher joked about giving the award to President Trump during his monologue.
President Trump referred to Maher as a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” in a Truth Social post.
Maher referenced a 2013 lawsuit where Trump sued him for comments made on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
WHERE:
The award ceremony will take place at the Kennedy Center.
WHEN:
The Kennedy Center confirmed Maher as the award recipient on March 24, 2026, and the confirmation followed a report from the Atlantic published a week prior.
The Kennedy Center confirmed Maher as the award recipient on March 24, 2026.
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 28, 2026.
WHY:
Maher commented on the history of his relationship with Trump, referencing a 2013 lawsuit and stating, “This has been going on a long time, so him trying to block me from getting it — I respect the move.”
The Mark Twain Prize recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society, similar to Mark Twain.
HOW:
Maher addressed the confusion surrounding the award during the opening minutes of his show on HBO Max, acknowledging the “back and forth” about whether he would receive it.
Maher addressed the confusion regarding the award during the opening minutes of his show on HBO Max, acknowledging the “back and forth” about whether he would receive it.
Maher addressed the confusion regarding the award during the opening minutes of his show on HBO Max.
The White House initially denied Maher would receive the award, calling it “fake news.”
(UPDATED March 28, 2026 19:09 UTC)
On March 27, Bill Maher announced during his monologue that he has reached a compromise regarding the Mark Twain Prize, stating he will accept it and then give it to Trump. Maher, who read a list of insults from Trump while accepting the award, emphasized that he is not looking for a fight and respects Trump's efforts to block him from receiving it, referencing their long history, including a 2013 lawsuit. He also addressed the confusion surrounding the award during the opening minutes of his show on HBO Max, clarifying the ongoing back and forth about whether he would actually receive it.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 15:05 UTC)
Bill Maher addressed the recent confusion surrounding his award from the Kennedy Center during the opening minutes of his HBO Max show, acknowledging the “back and forth” about whether he would receive it. He expressed his respect for President Trump's attempts to block the award, stating, “I respect the move. Keep the game going, baby, OK, I’m all about engagement.” Maher also referenced a 2013 lawsuit involving Trump and read aloud a list of insults from the former president, including terms like “low ratings lightweight” and “pathetic, bloated sleaze bag.”
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 09:08 UTC)
Bill Maher is set to receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center, with the ceremony scheduled for June 28, 2026. In a recent monologue, Maher joked about giving the award to President Trump, who responded by calling Maher a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” on Truth Social, referencing a past lawsuit from 2013. The Kennedy Center confirmed Maher as the award recipient on March 24, 2026, despite initial denials from the White House labeling the news as “fake news.”