White House shuts down experiences comic Bill Maher was set to obtain Mark Twain Prize on the Kennedy Center | EUROtoday

The White House has shut down experiences that comic Bill Maher — a long-time critic of President Donald Trump — was slated to obtain the distinguished Mark Twain Prize.

On Friday, The Atlantic reported that Maher, the host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maherwas to be awarded the 2026 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, citing a number of sources acquainted with the matter.

The people quoted did so on the situation of anonymity, as no formal announcement had been issued and the matter might nonetheless be reversed.

The honor is awarded yearly by the Kennedy Center, an establishment that Trump overhauled early in his time period, and tried to rebranded along with his personal identify and now chairs. Past recipients embody Steve Martin, Eddy Murphy, Tina Fey and Conan O’Brien.

Soon after the story ran, Trump administration officers reached out to the Kennedy Center to make clear that Maher, 70, wouldn’t take residence the prize, in accordance with The Atlanticand a staffer confirmed that the choice had been made however later walked again.

“This is fake news,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed the outlet. “Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award.”

The identical assertion was supplied to CNN, whereas 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 present for greater than a decade.

In 2013, he joked that the actual property tycoon was the “love child” of an orangutan and a human lady — prompting Trump to sue him for $5 million. More just lately, 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 warfare.

For his half, the 79-year-old Republican president has known as the comic “boring,” a “jerk” and “a highly overrated lightweight.”

But, in April final 12 months, a detente appeared attainable, when Maher joined Trump for dinner on the White House together with their mutual buddy Kid Rock. The late-night host described Trump as “gracious and measured” and a far cry from the “crazy” man he sees on tv.

Still although, he carried on attacking the president on his present, which airs on Friday nights.

On Valentine’s Day, Trump expressed remorse for internet hosting Maher in his residence, 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 instructed his studio viewers: “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 night, Maher has not publicly responded to the information that he won’t obtain the Mark Twain Prize this 12 months.