Bill Maher, a renowned comedian and television host known for his sarcastic and outspoken ways, has once again found himself at the center of a controversy. The Kennedy Center has given out this esteemed comedy honor, Mark Twain Prize, each year since its inception in 1998. This year it was reportedly Maher’s turn to get the prize, as reported by The Atlantic. But now things seemed to have changed for the veteran comedian.

The White House has dismissed the news of Bill Maher being ever considered for the Mark Twain Prize.

Following The Atlantic's report, the White House issued a statement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the publication that Bill Maher would not be receiving the Mark Twain Prize 2026.

“This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” Leavitt told The Atlantic and several other outlets in a statement. Different spokespeople from the White House have been giving this same response in regard to this matter. However, a detailed explanation of the same is yet to be publicly disclosed. According to The Atlantic, a Kennedy Center staffer confirmed that the decision was made before being reversed.

The Kennedy Center honors comedians and humorists with this annual prize. Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart, and Adam Sandler have all been honored with the Mark Twain Award in the past. Comedians and celebrities gather for the award's ceremony, which is usually held at the Kennedy Center, which now has President Donald Trump's name on its face as the American President has worked to transform the arts institution in his image. 

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While some consider this a surprising move, many have already pointed out the reason why Bill Maher’s name was taken off.

On his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, the host has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump's policies and has occasionally drawn Trump's wrath because of his opinions. The President has gone to great lengths to express his resentment over Bill Maher's criticism. Last month, he dubbed Maher a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” on his Truth Social platform.

This can be attributed as a reason for the move but still, there is no official statement, so it will only be an assumption. Still, it is widely known that the American President does not shy away from criticizing celebrities, as was evident when he publicly called out Robert De Niro for his remarks on his policies. 

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Do you agree with White House’s alleged decision to rescind Bill Maher’s nomination? Do let us know in the comments.