Bill Maher to Receive Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize After White House Denial
Comedian Bill Maher has been selected to win the prestigious Mark Twain prize for American humor, the Kennedy Center announced on Thursday. This decision comes less than a week after the White House forcefully denied reports that Maher, who has had a tumultuous relationship with former President Donald Trump, would be honored with the award.
Kennedy Center's Statement and Maher's Response
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice-president of public relations, stated, "For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy. For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse – one politically incorrect joke at a time." In his own statement, Maher humorously remarked, "I just had the award explained to me, and apparently it's like an Emmy, except I win."
White House's Initial Reaction and Silence
Following an Atlantic report last week that Maher would receive the award, the White House pushed back strongly. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, labeled the story as "literally FAKE NEWS" on social media. However, the White House did not provide any immediate comment on Thursday regarding the official announcement.
Background of the Mark Twain Prize
The Kennedy Center has presented the Mark Twain prize since 1998 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to humor and commentary in the United States. Previous recipients include notable figures such as Conan O'Brien, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Letterman, Carol Burnett, and Tina Fey. The award ceremony is scheduled for 28 June, just before Trump plans to close the Kennedy Center for renovations expected to last approximately two years.
Trump's Influence on the Kennedy Center
Since returning to office, President Trump has exerted considerable influence over the Kennedy Center. He ousted its previous leadership and replaced it with a handpicked board of trustees, which named him chair. The board added Trump's name to the Kennedy Center and approved the closure, actions that have led to ongoing legal proceedings.
History of the Trump-Maher Relationship
The relationship between Maher and Trump has long been fraught with tension. In 2013, before entering politics, Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit against Maher for breach of contract. This stemmed from an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, where Maher joked that he would donate $5 million to charity if Trump could prove he was not "the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan." Trump claimed Maher did not pay up after he provided his birth certificate, though Trump eventually dropped the lawsuit.
Recent Interactions and Public Statements
Earlier this year, the Trump-Maher relationship flared up again when Trump claimed on social media that he wasted time having a meal with Maher last year. Trump wrote, "He came into the famed Oval Office much different than I thought he would be. He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself," and alleged that Maher admitted to being "scared."
In response, during his 11 April episode of Real Time, Maher described the dinner as a "good time," noting that Trump was "gracious and measured" and not like the "person who plays a crazy person on TV." He denied feeling scared and used his New Rules segment to highlight certain Trump policies he appreciated, such as the "mass removal of stone cold criminals" and efforts to make NATO members pay "their fair share."
Maher added, "I may be the last person from the lunatic left that is still an honest broker when it comes to you. I always want the American president to succeed, and I do give credit when you have, but there's lots of stuff you do that is not my idea of success, and I have every right to say so in a democracy."
