Renowned yet divisive comedian Bill Maher was on track to receive a distinguished accolade from the Kennedy Center this year until an unexpected intervention from the White House added another twist to their longstanding conflict.
According to reports, Maher was selected to be honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, an institution known for celebrating the crème de la crème of comedic talent.
Insiders revealed to The Atlantic and CNN that the announcement of Maher’s award was made on Friday. However, the White House swiftly countered with an unexpected refutation just hours later.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the reports as ‘fake news,’ emphatically stating, ‘Bill Maher will NOT be receiving this award.’
Additionally, Trump’s Director of Communications, Steven Cheung, took to X to label The Atlantic’s report as ‘Literally FAKE NEWS.’
Although three separate sources corroborated Maher’s selection for the honor to The Atlantic, there was inconsistency regarding whether he had actually accepted the award.
One source said an official announcement was expected soon, while another said that Trump was aware Maher had been offered the prize and was supportive of it.
Another source told CNN that Maher was told he had been selected and was seriously considering it, but had not officially accepted the honor.
Donald Trump and Bill Maher have been publicly critical of one another over the years, frequently hurling insults. The two are pictured together above at the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2004
The White House denied that Bill Maher had been offered a prestigious award in comedy at the Kennedy Center. Trump is pictured above in front of the White House on Friday
Accounts differed as to whether Bill Maher had officially accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He is pictured above on his HBO show
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment.
The two have had a long and complicated relationship, often hurling public jabs but occasionally sharing friendly moments.
Maher attended a dinner at the White House in April 2025. He faced backlash at the time from the comedy community.
However, the civility did not last long as Trump lashed out at Maher on social media after the comedian criticized his administration.
Trump called Maher a ‘highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT’ in February, and said their 2025 dinner was a waste of time.
‘He came into the famed Oval Office much different than I thought he would be,’ Trump wrote on social media.
‘He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself and, to soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a Vodka Tonic.’
The president added that Maher confessed he had never felt that nervous before, with Trump joking that the encounter was ‘endearing.’
Maher addressed the infamous dinner on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, at the time calling the president ‘gracious and measured,’ adding that he was willing to ‘listen and accept me as a possible friend.’
Donald Trump shared a series of posts on Truth Social saying he regretted inviting Bill Maher to the White House for dinner earlier this month
Maher hit back at the posts on his show, saying he did not suffer from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’
His tune changed after Trump’s social media rant earlier this year. Maher said last month that he did not suffer from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome,’ accusing the president of having ‘Bill Maher Derangement Syndrome.’
He joked that the dinner was like a bad date, telling his audience: ‘I know how women feel now—a guy buys you dinner and then expects you to put out. I’m not that guy.’
Maher also revealed to CNN earlier this year that Trump often ‘yells’ at him via text for being a part of the ‘lunatic left.’
The comedian’s political beliefs have consistently come under scrutiny during his multi-decade career.
His show, Politically Incorrect, aired on Comedy Central in 1993, and he positioned himself as a controversial truth-teller at the time.
The show was taken off the air after Maher called the US government ‘cowardly’ following the September 11 attacks.
Maher attended a dinner last March at the White House alongside Trump, Kid Rock, and Dana White, pictured above
Kid Rock (left) coordinated the dinner. Maher said Trump was ‘gracious,’ but the president later admitted that he regretted hosting the comedian
Maher has identified as a center-left comedian and frequently addresses controversial topics on his show. He is pictured above at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Maher’s politics now tend to lean center-left. In his 2024 book, What This Comedian Said Will Shock You, he told readers that his beliefs have remained consistent, but that the left has become more radical.
If Maher had been the recipient of this year’s Mark Twain Prize, he would have joined the ranks of comedians like Conan O’Brien, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and Carol Burnett.
O’Brien won the award in 2025 before the Kennedy Center was renamed to The Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and the president cleaned house on the board of trustees.
The Kennedy family has frequently spoken out against the president taking over the center and vowed to eventually remove his name from the title.
