White House Denies Bill Maher Mark Twain Prize After Reports Of Selection
White House officials called reports Bill Maher would receive the Mark Twain Prize 'fake news' after sources said he had been selected; the Kennedy Center has not announced the honoree.
DeadlineWhite House Says Bill Maher Isn't Getting Mark Twain Prize: "Literally Fake News"
Daily BeastWhite House Cancels Kennedy Award to Trump’s Turncoat Friend
Raw StoryDispleased White House intervenes as Bill Maher announced as Kennedy Center prize-winner
CNNWhite House denies Bill Maher will receive Mark Twain Prize after sources say he was offered the honor | CNN Politics
The AtlanticNot So Fast, Bill Maher
Overview
The White House denied that Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the reports "fake news" and communications director Steven Cheung calling it "Literally FAKE NEWS."
Two sources close to the Kennedy Center told CNN that Maher had been offered or selected for the prize, but the Kennedy Center had not yet made an official announcement.
Atlantic reporter Michael Scherer said the White House called the Kennedy Center and made clear Maher would not receive the prize after the outlet published the report.
The Mark Twain Prize gala typically is held at the Kennedy Center and will be the last before a planned two-year renovation, and past recipients include Steve Martin, Tina Fey and Jon Stewart.
Maher, 70, has sparred with President Trump, including a 2025 White House dinner arranged by Kid Rock, and sources said Maher had not publicly accepted or acknowledged the selection.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as a partisan dispute by emphasizing White House denials and conflictual language while underplaying institutional responses. Editorial choices—headline repetition of all-caps denials, use of charged terms like “MAGA crowd” and “tempestuous relationship,” and omission of Kennedy Center or network comment—produce a narrative of political theater rather than balanced reporting.
FAQ
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is an annual award presented by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to honor living entertainers who have used humor to contribute to American culture and society, featuring a ceremony with a bust of Mark Twain and peer tributes.
Recipients are selected through a consensus decision by Kennedy Center executive producers in consultation with board trustees, senior management, and programming staff, based on comedic influence and ability to engage audiences.
Conan O’Brien received the Mark Twain Prize in 2025, with the ceremony broadcast on Netflix and earning Emmy nominations.
White House officials, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt and communications director Steven Cheung, called reports of Maher's selection 'fake news'; sources indicated the White House contacted the Kennedy Center after a report to prevent him from receiving it.
