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Comedian Bill Maher and other celebrities took multiple digs at President Donald Trump as Maher accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor over the weekend at the Kennedy Center.
Maher and impressionist Matt Friend did a bit where Friend impersonated Trump, saying, “Why are we giving this low-ratings lightweight jerk the Mark Twain Award,” The Washington Post reported.
Friend, depicting Trump, insisted he was more deserving of the award, and even broke into the Trump dance.
“I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m finally getting an award,” Maher said during the bit. “Can you just let me have my moment, give my speech, then you can go back to zinging me with all of your insults?”
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Mark Twain Prize recipient Bill Maher attends the 27th Mark Twain Prize For American Humor Gala at The Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Whitney Cummings said during her set that the center could celebrate Maher “even though Trump is now the board chair of this venue.” She said she was warned not to dig at the president, but said she wasn’t scared.
Workers removed Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center facade in June after an appeals court denied a request from the Kennedy Center’s board to block a judge’s ruling that Trump’s name be removed.
Actor Woody Harrelson referenced the name change during his congratulations to Maher “ironically at the Trump Kennedy Center.” He then quipped at the intended slip-up and said, “No, all right, we fixed it,” the Post reported.
Bill Maher attends the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at The Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Shannon Finney/WireImage)
John Mellencamp sang his hit “Pink Houses” at the event, and brought in a bit of politics after he sang the line, “to work in some high rise, and vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico!”
He said, “…or whatever we’re calling it these days,” a reference to Trump’s renaming of the body of water as the Gulf of America.
Maher and Trump have traded barbs over the last year as the White House initially denied that Maher was going to be given the Mark Twain prize.
Maher said on his “Club Random” podcast in late April that he will be accepting the award on June 28 “unless Trump f—s it up again, which is completely possible.”
“I loved it that they tried to block it,” Maher said, referring to reports that the Trump administration tried to prevent him from receiving the award. “And, of course, I think he absolutely still could if he wanted to. So, I’m just thankful.”
He offered backhanded praise for the move, appearing to say he respected the hostility as a kind of honor.
“I love that, you know, he takes the game seriously. Like no, ‘I’m going to block this guy.’ I respect the move,” Maher said. “But I know that on June 28th, it’s going to happen. We’re going to be at the Kennedy Center, and I couldn’t be more appreciative, honestly.”
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Maher said at the event on Sunday that he had been nominated for over 40 Emmys, but had never won.
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“Is it something I said?” he asked, according to the Post. “It’s everything I said.”
