Bill Maher, 70, accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center on Sunday, June 28, after months of sharp friction with President Donald Trump—tied to a private dinner at the White House, Trump’s February criticism on Truth Social, and
When comedian Bill Maher began his Mark Twain Prize acceptance speech on Sunday, June 28, he didn’t get the smooth, reverent moment his supporters might have expected.
Almost immediately, Matt Friend—known for impersonating President Donald Trump—cut in to tell the audience he would be accepting the award instead.
“Hold on, Bill – I’m going to let you finish,” Friend said, according to reporting at the time. “Why are we giving this low-ratings, lightweight jerk the Mark Twain award?”
Maher, 70, played along. He turned the disruption into part of the show, telling the crowd he’d had differences with Trump but was finally getting a prize—and asking Friend to let him have his moment.
“I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m finally getting an award. Can you just let me have my moment?” Maher said, as later described. He then feigned surrendering the honor: “Just take it.”
The setting was the Kennedy Center, where Maher received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor—an event that, for weeks, had been shadowed by the president feud that has followed him into 2024.
Maher’s relationship with Trump has been turbulent in recent months. shaped by public criticism and a private dinner that later became political fuel. Maher has been a frequent critic of Trump. but he drew criticism from Democrats last year after he had dinner with the president at the White House. When Maher told viewers that Trump was “surprisingly personable” in private. the backlash spread among Trump opponents. including “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Larry David.
Less than a year after that dinner, Trump posted on Truth Social in February, describing it as a “waste of time” and saying Maher’s HBO talk show, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” has been “very boring” and “anti-Trump” ever since.
Maher responded that Trump seemed to expect he would stop criticizing him after they sat down together.
By Sunday’s ceremony, the feud wasn’t just background noise—it was part of the performance. Maher’s speech leaned into the friction itself, criticizing the “groupthink” of partisan politics while embracing what he has long done best: goading both sides.
“My message to them is simple: If you want to not get mocked, stop being funny,” Maher said, as later reported. “If you hang around long enough and create something important enough, everyone hates you at some point.”
The ceremony also came with a flashpoint beyond Maher’s remarks. In March, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied Maher would receive the award after news of his selection was published by The Atlantic.
“This is fake news,” Leavitt told the outlet. “Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award.”
That denial set up the late-stage tension of Sunday night: Maher was not merely accepting an honor—he was doing it publicly, while Trump’s own criticisms and the political quarrel around his dinner continued to echo.
As for the Kennedy Center itself, the timing carried its own local shake-up. The ceremony arrived just before the Kennedy Center is set to shut down in July for two years to undergo reconstruction. During a red-carpet interview with APT. Maher joked about the renovation plans. calling the building “beautiful” and saying. “I mean. they keep talking about how we need to renovate it. It looks perfectly fine to me.”.
He added: “I’m not saying it’s a scam; I’m not saying it’s not. I do not see one thing that needs renovation. It’s pristine.”
Put together. Sunday’s night held a consistent thread: an award meant to celebrate American humor became a high-wire act of political symbolism—interruption. comeback. and direct commentary—unfolding while the institution itself prepares to close for major work and while a presidential feud refuses to cool down.
Bill Maher Mark Twain Prize Kennedy Center Donald Trump Karoline Leavitt Truth Social Real Time with Bill Maher Matt Friend Matt Friend impersonations Larry David HBO American Humor
So Trump is still in everything even award shows now? lol
Wait I’m confused, was Matt Friend actually there to insult him or just do bits? Because if it’s “Mark Twain” then why are we talking about low-ratings jerk… sounds like clickbait to me.
Isn’t this just proof that Bill Maher can’t let Trump go? Like he accepts an award and immediately has to bring up the feud. Also the part about Trump being “personable” privately… I feel like that’s just how rich guys do PR dinners, not some real story.
This is why I can’t stand these “comedy” awards. They turn it into a political circus. Next they’ll have the impersonator accept too and then everyone pretends it’s classy. Mark Twain would be rolling in his grave but also Twain probably woulda trolled Trump first, so idk.