Bill Maher calls out Trump and other critics while accepting Kennedy Center prize for comedy: 'When people laugh, you're caught'

By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, US POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 06:46, 29 June 2026 | Updated: 06:53, 29 June 2026 Comedian Bill Maher had a message to President Trump and others who did not want to be the target of his humor: Stop being funny. At the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Maher was honored with the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, America's highest award for comedy.  'Now the president, when he is in attack mode, never fails to say I am part of the lunatic left,' Maher shared with the crowd of attendees. 'When either side gets mad at me because I put them in jokes, jokes that work, my message to them is simple: You want to not get mocked? Stop being funny.  'Then the jokes won't work. When they are ridiculous, they do work, and when people laugh, you're caught.' Several of President Trump's top political allies, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dr. Oz, were in the crowd on Sunday night.  The commander in chief was nowhere to be found in person. After an hour and a half of addresses from several of Maher's long-time friends, including Arianna Huffington, Louis C.K., Stephen A. Smith, and Jay Leno, the honoree finally took the stage himself. Mark Twain Prize recipient Bill Maher attends the 27th Mark Twain Prize For American Humor Gala at The Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026 in Washington, DC Stephen A. Smith arrives on the red carpet for the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 28th, 2026, in Washington Bill Maher attends the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at The Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Allison Lutnick arrive on the red carpet, on the day comedian Bill Maher receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC In his speech, Maher thanked his producers, two of whom were his guests at the show, as well as his lifelong audience, who he said know how to hear from people with whom they disagree, which he considers to be a unique trait in this age. 'People say they want honesty, they don't. They want to live in a bubble. They say they want to be challenged. They don't, except for my audience. They love it, and I love them for it,' Maher quipped. 'And I'm sorry, I think that makes them better. Why? Because I don't ask what will please the audience. I ask what is true and they are OK with that,' he continued. 'They are a unique group of people who do not demand to be pandered to, and in fact, want me not to do that, and it has been the honor of a lifetime to try and lead a backlash to groupthink,' Maher also noted in his speech.   Other notable lines of the night came from comedian Matt Friend, who 'interrupted' Maher's speech with an impression of President Donald Trump, upset that Maher had received the prize. Comedian Whitney Cummings also took quite a direct jab at Trump, stating that he did not make the show because he was 'caught in sex traffic,' an apparent  jab at Trump's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. The honoree also took a jab at himself, sharing that it was good to finally win an award, unlike the 41 Emmy award nominations he had received and walked away empty-handed. Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher, center left, applauds for John Mellencamp during the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington Senator John Fetterman and Gisele Barreto Fetterman arrive on the red carpet for the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington From left, Louis C.K., Jay Leno, Arianna Huffington, and Stephen A. Smith, wait for the start of the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington Administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dr Mehmet Oz and his wife Lisa Oz pose on the red carpet, on the day comedian Bill Maher receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC, June 28, 2026 Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna and her husband Andrew Gamberzky attend the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at The Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026 in Washington, DC Elizabeth Pipko arrives on the red carpet, on the day comedian Bill Maher receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, in Washington Maher was the penultimate performer of the evening, and the night was wrapped up by musician John Mellencamp before attendees filed to a private evening reception after the show. DC political leaders, including Capitol Hill lawmakers of both parties, attended Sunday's Kennedy Center festivities. Staying true to Maher's own reputation as a contrarian, several of the lawmakers who attended the award show also fit a more individualist mold. Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman walked the red carpet before the show with his wife Giselle, donning an outfit consisting of a long-sleeved black button-down shirt and even long black pants, a departure from his typical garb of sweatshirts and athletic shorts. Republican firebrand Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who has referred to herself as House Speaker 'Mike Johnson's favorite headache,' also attended Sunday's show, as did California Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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