At the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday night, a giant tarpaulin concealed a section of the marble facade where Donald Trump's name was recently removed by court order. Guests entering the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony could not see the erased letters, but once inside, comedians delivered relentless punchlines at the expense of a president whose power appears to be waning in this corner of Washington DC.
Woody Harrelson opens with a jab
Paying tribute to this year's recipient, Bill Maher, actor Woody Harrelson said: “Finally, an award for my dear friend – ironically at the Trump Kennedy Center. No, all right, we fixed that.” The audience erupted in applause. Acknowledging the tarp-covered scaffolding, Harrelson added: “Not as though you’d be able to notice.”
Trump seized control of the Kennedy Center last year, installing himself as chair. His handpicked board voted to rename it the Trump Kennedy Center and affix his name to the wall. But last month, US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the addition illegal and ordered the 18 letters removed. On Sunday, a step-and-repeat backdrop featured “Kennedy Center” without Trump's name, but framed photos of the president, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and second lady Usha Vance remained on the wall.
Jokes about vanity and legal battles
The legal saga became immediate fodder. Former late-night host Jay Leno said on the red carpet: “This is funny to me. It’s not war, it’s not antisemitism, it’s not racism – it’s vanity. It’s so silly, it’s like high school with money. Covering the name now – hilarious!”
During the ceremony, comedian Whitney Cummings quipped: “I’m just glad we all celebrated Bill tonight, even though Trump is now the board chair of this venue. He actually does have a lot of power here ... so enjoy this fall’s three-month run of White Hamilton.” The musical Hamilton had cancelled its planned Kennedy Center run in response to Trump's takeover, moving to the National Theatre. Cummings added: “The thing about comedy is that we aren’t scared. We try not to be scared of people that bully.”
Trump impersonator steals the show
As Maher began to accept the prize, impersonator Matt Friend took the stage in Trump's voice, joking he would accept the award himself: “I had one of the greatest comedy careers of all time. I get so many more laughs than this guy!” Friend also mocked Maher's recent White House dinner with Trump, who autographed a list of insults. Maher denied making a deal, telling the impersonator: “That dinner was always about just having the two sides talk to each other instead of shouting at each other.”
Legal and political fallout
Judge Cooper also halted Trump's plans to close the center for a two-year renovation costing $257 million. Trump posted on social media that Cooper “should be ashamed of himself” and indicated he was finished with the Kennedy Center, writing: “I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND.’” The board has yet to decide its next move.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, attending the gala, said Trump remains committed: “The president is not only the commander in chief, but he’s the builder in chief. He’s gonna try his darnedest to make this building shine.” Asked about Trump's name removal, Lutnick said: “I don’t talk about what the president wants to do. I leave it to him.”
Maher's equal-opportunity offense
Maher, 70, relishes his persona as an unmarried atheist contrarian who defies groupthink and assails Trump and the “woke” left. The ceremony highlighted his role as an “equal opportunity offender” on shows like Politically Incorrect and Real Time with Bill Maher. Taking the stage, Maher reflected on his 33-year career: “People say they want honesty. They don’t. They want to live in a bubble.” He praised his loyal viewership as a unique cohort who “do not demand to be pandered to.” He added: “I don’t ask what will please the audience. I ask what is true and they’re OK with that.”
Unusual mix of politicians and celebrities
The ceremony drew Democrats and Republicans, including Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California and TV personality Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz said: “It’s valuable for America to have humorists who can pick on both sides. ... If the punchline is always Donald Trump, well please, give me a little something else.” Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna lauded Maher as a “traditional blue dog Democrat” whose willingness to call out “the craziness” is vital.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania praised Maher's unwavering support for Israel, noting “no daylight” between their views, making them both “outliers” in the Democratic party. Regarding the Kennedy Center controversy, Fetterman said: “The centre will outlive the Trump administration and I’m not worried about putting someone’s name on it.”
The Mark Twain Prize, established in 1998, has been awarded to Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, and Conan O’Brien. The ceremony is scheduled to air on Netflix on July 21.
