Bill Maher Set to Receive Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-06-28 04:00:00 — www.nytimes.com
Trump Administration Initially Dismissed Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize as “Fake News”
The Trump administration’s handling of comedian Bill Maher’s selection for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor has drawn scrutiny after officials initially labeled the news as “fake.” When it was announced in March that Maher would receive the prestigious award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the administration’s first response was to dismiss the report as false. An official later stated that the situation had “changed after further conversations.”
This episode highlights a pattern in which President Trump and his administration have been quick to brand unfavorable or unexpected developments as “fake news,” only to later reverse course when circumstances change. The administration’s shifting stance on Maher’s award is just the latest example of this approach.
The Kennedy Center, under Trump’s chairmanship, has become a flashpoint in Washington, with legal battles over how much influence the president and his allies should have over the institution. Recently, a federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the center’s marble facade, a decision the center has appealed.
Maher, a frequent critic of Trump on his HBO show, has openly mocked the president’s approval ratings and policies, and has accused him of racist, misogynistic, and anti-democratic behavior. The contentious relationship between the two has been a recurring theme in public discourse, with Maher even asking Trump to autograph a list of insults the president has directed at him over the years, including “sleazebag,” “third-rate comedian,” and “low ratings dummy.”
The administration’s initial dismissal of Maher’s honor as “fake news” underscores the president’s ongoing use of the term to undermine stories and individuals he finds objectionable. As the Kennedy Center prepares to host Maher and a lineup of celebrities for the award ceremony, the episode serves as a reminder of the president’s combative relationship with the media and critics in the arts.
In conclusion, the Trump administration’s response to Maher’s Mark Twain Prize reflects a broader pattern of attacking unfavorable news as “fake,” only to later adjust its position. This approach continues to fuel controversy and division at one of the nation’s most prominent cultural institutions.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/arts/kennedy-center-bill-maher-mark-twain.html