Bill Maher Receives Mark Twain Prize at Kennedy Center as Trump-Controlled Venue Faces Legal Fight
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 28
Bill Maher Receives Mark Twain Prize at Kennedy Center as Trump-Controlled Venue Faces Legal Fight
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 28
Summary
Sunday’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony will honor Bill Maher at the Kennedy Center, placing a longtime Trump critic onstage at an arts institution now chaired by President Trump.
The event lands in a politically charged moment because the center is fighting in court over how far Trump and his allies can reshape it; a judge ordered Trump’s name removed from the facade this month, and the center appealed.
Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” has recently compared Trump to an emperor, mocked his approval ratings and Iran deal, and accused him of racist, misogynistic, anti-democratic and corrupt conduct.
July 21 is when Netflix will premiere the ceremony, which will feature roasts and tributes from guests including Louis C.K., Jay Leno, Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson, John Mellencamp, Arianna Huffington and Stephen A. Smith.
Maher’s decision to appear stands out because many artists have avoided the Kennedy Center, underscoring how the prize has become entangled in Washington and entertainment-industry divisions.