Comedian Bill Maher was the guest of honor at the Kennedy Center on Sunday night, yet President Donald Trump’s influence felt pervasive. Moments after Maher began accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Matt Friend, a prominent presidential impersonator, took the stage to joke in Trump’s voice that he would accept the award himself. Trump became a frequent punchline throughout the gala for entertainers such as Whitney Cummings, Jay Leno, and Woody Harrelson.
The comedic jabs were generally not deeply biting. Whitney Cummings quipped that under Trump, the Kennedy Center would likely host a “white Hamilton.” Following Friend’s act, Maher largely avoided targeting the president. The event was nonetheless significant for being held at an iconic arts venue that the Trump administration has worked extensively to influence, leading to deep uncertainty regarding its future. In his acceptance speech, Maher denounced extremes in both political parties, specifically rejecting what he described as “groupthink.” He noted that if one persists long enough and creates something of value, it is inevitable that everyone will dislike you eventually.
The ceremony was not entirely political, featuring jokes about Maher’s well-known fondness for marijuana, his rejection of organized religion, and his past controversies, including comments made shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks that resulted in the cancellation of his show, “Politically Incorrect.” However, the future of the Kennedy Center loomed over the proceedings. After returning to the White House in January 2025, the Republican president replaced much of the center’s leadership and installed a board of allies, naming himself chairman. His name was initially added to the building’s facade, triggering a legal battle over presidential power.
In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the addition of Trump’s name was illegal and ordered its removal, while also blocking a planned closure of the center. Although the name has been removed, a tarp currently covers the facade. The court has requested an update next month regarding the duration of the tarp, with the final currently scheduled event being “The Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration” on July 3. Woody Harrelson joked, “we fixed that,” regarding the court-ordered removal of the name. Comedian Jay Leno commented that the moves at the Kennedy Center were “hilarious” and rooted in “vanity,” comparing the situation to high school with money.
Maher’s selection for the award was notable given his long-standing strained relationship with the president. In 2013, Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit against Maher for breach of contract after Maher, on “The Tonight Show,” offered $5 million to a charity of Trump’s choice if the president could prove he was not the product of his mother mating with an orangutan. Trump claimed Maher failed to pay after a birth certificate was produced, though he eventually dropped the suit. Recently, the tension surfaced again when Trump claimed on social media that he had wasted time meeting with the comedian last year. Ahead of the ceremony, the gala was touted as an event where all sides could laugh at past critiques. Maher recently interviewed Vice President JD Vance on his show, challenging him on issues like the Iran war, immigration enforcement, and election conspiracy theories. The Twain prize ceremony is scheduled to air on Netflix on July 21.
