WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Comedian was being awarded the prestigious on Sunday in what might be one of the last major onstage moments at the for the next several years.
The award has been presented since 1998 as a way to recognize those who have made significant contributions to humor and commentary in the United States. Previous winners include , , , , and .
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Maher called the prize a great honor.
鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 like awards and wouldn鈥檛 want to be compared to Mark Twain, especially for what I do?” he said. 鈥淎nd, you know, they鈥檝e had a lot of amazing winners who I鈥檓 huge fans of. Not all of them are anything like Mark Twain. I am at least somewhat like Mark Twain. … He took on both sides.鈥�
President , who has spent much of his second term reshaping the performing arts venue, didn鈥檛 attend. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was the most prominent member of the administration in attendance. Other political guests included Paul Dans, who helped shape the Republican Project 2025 agenda. Some Democrats were in attendance, including Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Actor , businesswoman Arianna Huffington, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith and comedian were among the celebrities appearing at the ceremony.
The future of the Kennedy Center hung over the event. Shortly after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the Republican president much of the center’s leadership and installed a board largely composed of allies. It named Trump as chairman and his name was added to the building’s iconic facade, prompting a legal battle that became a proxy fight over the extent of the president’s power.
Trump later said the Kennedy Center would close in July for a two-year renovation. But U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper upended those plans in May by that Trump’s name was illegally added to the building, ordering it removed. The judge also has blocked the closure.
A legal saga that could be fodder for jokes
The legal fight has turned into a saga that could be easy fodder for jokes at the Twain gala.
Trump’s name has come down from the building, in compliance with the judge’s order. But the part of the building once covered with letters spelling the president’s name is now shrouded in a tarp. The full closure is on hold. Lawyers for the Kennedy Center have said they are for now to build out programming.
Cooper has asked for an update next month on how long the tarp will remain on the building. For now, the final event scheduled for the Kennedy Center’s well-known Concert Hall is 鈥淭he Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration鈥� on July 3.
Ahead of the ceremony, Lutnick said Trump 鈥渨ants to make this building sensational.鈥�
But others were more skeptical. As he walked the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, Leno said Trump鈥檚 moves at the Kennedy Center were both 鈥渉ilarious鈥� and about 鈥渧anity.鈥�
鈥淚t’s not a war,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s not people getting killed. It’s not anti Semitism. It’s a silly thing covering a name. I mean what’s funnier than that? I mean it’s just like, you know it’s high school with money.鈥�
Maher and Trump have a fraught relationship
Given Trump’s sway over the Kennedy Center, Maher’s selection for the award was notable because the two men have long had a fraught relationship.
Before he entered politics, Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit against Maher in 2013 for breach of contract. Appearing on Leno鈥檚 鈥淭he Tonight Show,鈥� Maher said he would give $5 million to the charity of Trump鈥檚 choice if Trump could prove he was not 鈥渢he spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.鈥�
Trump claimed that when he provided his birth certificate, Maher did not pay up, prompting the lawsuit. Trump ended up dropping it.
The Trump-Maher relationship exploded again earlier this year, when the president claimed on social media that he wasted time sitting down for a meal with the comedian last year.
Maher hosted Vice President JD Vance on his show heading into the weekend. Vance, who is promoting a book, said he watches the show and laughed at Maher’s monologue 鈥渆ven though you were making fun of me.鈥� During the interview, Maher pressed Vance on the Iran war, immigration enforcement and election conspiracy theories.
鈥淵ou guys have two outcomes that an election can be,鈥� Maher told Vance. 鈥淓ither we win or they cheated. That s鈥�- has to stop.鈥�
The Twain prize ceremony will air on Netflix on July 21.
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Associated Press videojournalist John Carucci contributed to this report.
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