White House shuts down reports comedian Bill Maher was set to receive Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center

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.