Comedian Bill Maher is slated to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center. The announcement was made on Thursday, less than a week after the White House vehemently denied reports of Maher’s impending award, famously dismissing the initial news as “FAKE NEWS.”
Maher, known for his complex relationship with Donald Trump—having once described the former president as “gracious and measured” despite frequent criticisms—will now officially accept the esteemed honor. Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s Vice-President of Public Relations, commented on the award’s legacy in a statement: “For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy.” She further highlighted Maher’s significant and enduring impact on public discourse, noting, “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse — one politically incorrect joke at a time.”