In his first on-air comments about being chosen to receive the Mark Twain Prize after the White House decried it as “fake news,” Bill Maher‘s message to President Trump was this: Game respects game.
“I respect the move. Keep the game going, baby,” Maher said at the top of this Friday’s Real Time on HBO. “I’m all about engagement. Disengagement gets you nothing.”
It was on March 20 that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed The Atlantic‘s report of Maher being the 27th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor—which is presented by the recently renamed Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts—saying, “This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award.” White House comms director Steve Cheung similarly said on X, “Literally FAKE NEWS.”
After the Trump Kennedy Center sent out its March 26 press release announcing that Maher indeed would receive the award—at a June 28 gala, to stream on Netflix—the White House explained the mixed messaging: “This was false reporting at the time of The Atlantic’s reporting, but the situation changed after further conversations took place between The Trump Kennedy Center and event organizers over the past week.”
Bill Maher on Friday's 'Real Time' addressed confusion about him receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: "I saw [Trump] trying to block me from getting it, and I respect the move." pic.twitter.com/jSniVLDGN1
— Matt Mitovich (@MattMitovich) March 28, 2026
In this Friday’s Real Time monologue (watch above), Maher explained, “So I was going to get it, and then [last] Friday, both of [Trump’s] spokespeople come out and said, ‘Fake news! Bill Maher is never getting it!'”
Since then, “We have reached a compromise,” Maher said, before quipping: “And the compromise is I am going to get it, and then I am going to give it to him. Everybody is happy!”
Turning a bit more sincere, Maher said, “I just want things to work out. And I also want to say thank you. I’m not looking for a fight. And I’m not mad that he did this. Me and the president, we have a complicated relationship. It goes back to the orangutan lawsuit. This has been going on a long time.
“I saw him trying to block me from getting [the Mark Twain Prize], and I respect the move. I respect the move,” he said. “Keep the game going, baby, okay? I’m all about engagement. Disengagement gets you nothing.”
Quoting the many insults Trump hurled at him over the years, Maher said, “As a low-ratings lightweight, and a rather dumb guy, and a pathetic, bloated sleazebag, a dummy, a terrible student, a nervous failing comedian, and someone who was sick, insane, very sad, totally shot, and a crazy maniac… I am honored to accept the Mark Twain award.
“I will be there, Don,” at the June 28 Trump Kennedy Center gala, “and I hope you will be, too,” he added. “The place is named after you now. You really should show up [and] thank me in person for being one of the few people on the lunatic left who’s glad you hit Iran and is hoping we win that one.”
President Trump reportedly has no plans to attend the June 28 gala awarding the Mark Twain Prize.
You’re both toxic narcissistic douchenozzles that repel and offend people, everytime you open your sewer holes you have for mouths! You both demand everyone bend the knee to you because you believe yourselves to be brilliant, when, in reality, you’re both losers that don’t deserve to be taken seriously, because you both don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!
Very few think you’re both worthy of anything!
that Twain prize can be taken away again
stay tuned