The White House has shut down reports that comedian Bill Maher — a long-time critic of President Donald Trump — was slated to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize.
On Friday, The Atlantic reported that Maher, the host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, was to be awarded the 2026 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The individuals quoted did so on the condition of anonymity, as no formal announcement had been issued and the matter could still be reversed.
The honor is awarded annually by the Kennedy Center, an institution that Trump overhauled early in his term, and attempted to rebranded with his own name and now chairs. Past recipients include Steve Martin, Eddy Murphy, Tina Fey and Conan O’Brien.
Soon after the story ran, Trump administration officials reached out to the Kennedy Center to clarify that Maher, 70, would not take home the prize, according to The Atlantic, and a staffer confirmed that the decision had been made but later walked back.
“This is fake news,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the outlet. “Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award.”
The same statement was provided to CNN, while White House Communications Director Steven Cheung chimed in on X, writing: “Literally FAKE NEWS.”
Maher, a self-described "old-school liberal," has relentlessly skewered Trump on his late-night show for more than a decade.
In 2013, he joked that the real estate tycoon was the “love child” of an orangutan and a human woman — prompting Trump to sue him for $5 million. More recently, he’s labeled Trump “fat Donnie” and a “whiny little b****” and lambasted the president over his immigration crackdown, the Jeffrey Epstein controversy and the Iran war.
For his part, the 79-year-old Republican president has called the comedian “boring,” a “jerk” and “a highly overrated lightweight.”
But, in April last year, a detente seemed possible, when Maher joined Trump for dinner at the White House along with their mutual friend Kid Rock. The late-night host described Trump as “gracious and measured” and a far cry from the “crazy” man he sees on television.
Still though, he carried on attacking the president on his show, which airs on Friday nights.
On Valentine’s Day, Trump expressed regret for hosting Maher in his home, writing on Truth Social: “Sometimes in life you waste time!”
“We had a great dinner, it was quick, easy, and he seemed to be a nice guy…But then I noticed his show started to devolve into the same old story — Very boring, ANTI TRUMP,” the president added.
In response, Maher told his studio audience: “I never stopped criticizing him. I never said I would. I know how women feel now: A guy buys you dinner and expects you to put out. I'm not that guy.”
As of Friday evening, Maher has not publicly responded to the news that he will not receive the Mark Twain Prize this year.
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