Bill Maher Responds to Trump About the Mark Twain Prize and Invites Him to the Ceremony
Bill Maher Responds to Trump Administration’s Protest of Mark Twain Prize Honor
In a recent episode of Real Time, comedian Bill Maher addressed the controversy surrounding his selection as this year’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, following objections raised by the Trump administration. Maher expressed his honor in accepting the award and extended an invitation to former President Trump to attend the ceremony at the Kennedy Center, an institution that now bears Trump’s name.
Maher humorously linked his recognition to recent events during the broadcast, teasing, “But speaking of awards, I’m finally getting one.” The audience responded with applause after White House communications director Steven Cheung labeled the announcement a “Literally FAKE NEWS” statement.
Continuing his commentary, Maher referenced the administration’s skepticism over his award, stating, “So, I was gonna get it, and then Friday, Trump’s, both his spokespeople came out and said, ‘Fake news! Bill Maher is never getting it.’” He humorously suggested a compromise: “I am going to get it, and then I’m going to give it to him. Everybody’s happy. I just want things to work out.”
Expressing a nuanced view of his relationship with Trump, Maher offered a lighthearted reflection, stating, “You know what, me and the president have a complicated relationship. It goes back to the orangutan lawsuit, you know, this has been going on a long time.” He acknowledged the exchanges of insults between them, which he averred he cherished as part of their ongoing dynamic.
He concluded with an invitation to Trump, saying, “I will be there, Don, and I hope you will be too. I mean, the place is named after you now, you really should show up." Notably, Maher remarked on Trump’s military decisions, “You could thank me in person for being one of the few people on the ‘lunatic left’ who’s glad you hit Iran, and is hoping we win that one.”
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, affirmed Maher’s award following the Trump administration’s protest. “For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” Daravi stated. “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse — one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 28, taking place before the Kennedy Center’s two-year renovation. Maher will join an esteemed list of past honorees, including Richard Pryor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dave Chappelle, and others, while notable figures like Mel Brooks and Robin Williams have previously declined the award.
