White House Responds: Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize Award Called “Fake News”
The Trump administration has clarified that comedian Bill Maher will not be honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
“This is fake news,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Friday, responding to reports suggesting that Maher would join the ranks of esteemed recipients. “Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” she emphasized.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung echoed this sentiment, declaring the reports as “Literally FAKE NEWS” in a tweet on March 20, 2026.
The Mark Twain Prize, awarded by the Kennedy Center, has previously honored notable figures in comedy, including Richard Pryor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, and Lily Tomlin, since its inception in 1998. With Maher’s name absent from this distinguished list, it may be years before he has another opportunity for such an accolade.
Historically, some celebrities have turned down the award, including Mel Brooks and the late Robin Williams.
Representatives for HBO, which airs Maher’s show Real Time, and Netflix, which presents the Mark Twain Award ceremony, did not provide any comment regarding the situation.
Maher is expected to address the controversy during the latest episode of Real Time, as the show is recorded shortly before its late-night airing.
The relationship between Maher and former President Trump has been fraught over the years. This recent discord has resurfaced following Trump’s comment from last month, describing a previous meeting with Maher at the White House as “a total waste of time.”
During his February 21 broadcast, Maher remarked on the mixed reactions he faced from left-leaning audiences for his candid portrayal of Trump, noting the former President’s unexpectedly gracious demeanor during their encounter. “It’s so funny, because I got so much sh*t from the left for reporting honestly that in person, he was very different, very nice, very gracious,” Maher explained.
