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Outside of John F Kennedy Center for Performing Artsthe big screen remained in place to hide Donald Trump’s shame.
Visitors to the art gallery on Sunday night were unable to see the part of the marble that Trump’s name was recently erased to comply with a court order.
But once they sat down for The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at this event, there was no hiding as actors delivered punchlines in tribute to the US president whose power is waning, in this corner of Washington DC.
Honoring this year’s recipient, a comedian Bill Maheractor Woody Harrelson said: “Finally, an award for my dear friend – a surprise at the Trump Kennedy Center. No, well, we fixed it.”
The audience applauded. Then, apparently acknowledging the tarnished jealousy, Harrelson added: “Not if you’d notice.”
Trumpet conquered the Kennedy Center last year, placing himself as his chair. His hand-picked team voted to rename the Trump Kennedy Center and put his name on the wall. But last month, a judge ruled that the addition of Trump’s name to the building was illegal and ordered that 18 letters be removed.
On Sunday, the step-and-repeat behind the red carpet had the name “Kennedy Center” without the name Trump, but painted pictures of the president, the first lady, Melania Trump, the vice president, JD Vance, and the second lady, Usha Vance, remained on the wall.
The legal saga surrounding the building became instant fodder for comedy in the mirror. Former late night host Jay Leno said on the red carpet: “This is funny to me. It’s not war, it’s not antisemitism, it’s not racism – it’s just that. It’s so stupid, it’s like high school and money. Cover name now – fun! It’s high school. ‘I will show them, I will cover the name!’“
At the event, which Trump did not attend, comedian Whitney Cummings joked: “I’m glad we all celebrated Bill tonight, even though Trump is now the chairman of the board. He’s got a lot of power here and he’s talking about what’s going on here, so enjoy the three-month fall of White Hamilton.”
Hamilton, a musical written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, cast the actor as the founding father of the US. Its producers canceled plans for this year’s Kennedy Center in response to Trump’s takeover and will instead stage the show at the city’s National Theatre.
Cummings added bluntly: “The thing about comedy is that we’re not afraid.
Shortly after Maher received the award, Matt Friendthe president’s greatest impersonator, took the stage and, in Trump’s words, joked that he would accept the award himself. He said: “I had one of the funniest jobs ever. I laugh more than this guy!”
A friend also poked fun at Maher’s recent dinner at the White House with Trump, who went on a list of insults he hurled at Maher. The comedian later denied that he “had an affair” or that he had neglected his principles. Maher insisted the Trump impersonator: “That dinner was always about the two sides talking to each other instead of yelling at each other.”
Last month, US District Judge Christopher Cooper he promoted major presidential electionscanceled its plans to close the entire facility in July for a two-year renovation that will cost $257m. Trump tweeted that Cooper “should be ashamed of himself” and indicated that he was done with the Kennedy Center, writing: “I have no interest in continuing this hopeless journey to ‘NEVER NEVER LAND.’ The board wants to decide what to do. “
On Sunday, Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, said the president remained committed to the center. He said: “The president is not only a military commander, but he is also a great builder.”
“He’s going to try his darnedest to make this house shine and I think he’s going to succeed.” These courts are always like fighting him, but in the end, he wins, and we all know that. It’s all about success, and I’m here to help.“
When asked how Trump felt about having his name removed, Lutnick replied: “I don’t say what the president wants to do. I leave it up to him to ‘Truth’ when he wants to. I’m smart like that, I’m a smart guy.”
Maher, 70, enjoys a character as a single atheist who mocks the minority and bashes Trump and the “woke” left. The event highlighted his role as “equally guilty” on shows such as Politically Incorrect and Real Time with Bill Maher, where fired Vance last week.
Among those who honored Maher were entrepreneur Arianna Huffington, TV presenter Stephen A Smith and comedian Louis CK, who in 2017 accepted. crimes of immorality and several women including funny fellow women.
Arriving on stage to receive his award, Maher reflected on his 33-year career in television, expressing his pride in his refusal to coerce his viewers or bow to terroristic demands. “People say they want loyalty.” They don’t want to. They want to be quiet,” Maher told the audience, praising his loyal viewers as a special group who “don’t want to be bullied”.
He also said: “I don’t ask what will please the audience, I ask what is true and good.”
The event drew an unusual mix of Democrats and Republicans, Trump officials and the general public in Washington. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California, who appeared on Maher’s HBO show, was among the attendees.
Mehmet Oz, a TV personality and manager of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said: “It is important that America has comedians who can choose both sides. I worry that most of the jokes at midnight are always directed in one direction and if you know the punchline before the comedian says it, it’s not that funny, if Donald Trump is funny.
Anna Paulina LunaFlorida’s Republican Party leader praised Maher as a “blue dog Democrat” whose willingness to call out “madness” is essential to keeping the country united.
John FettermanThe Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, walked the red carpet to announce her relationship with Maher. Fetterman praised Maher’s unwavering support for Israel, saying there was “no daylight” between his views and the comedian’s – which has made them both “nonsensical” within the Democratic Party.
Asked about the controversy over the Kennedy Center’s name and the president’s aggressive renovations, Fetterman said: The Trump administration and I’m not worried about putting a person’s name on it.”
The Mark Twain Award was established in 1998. Maher joins a list of recipients that includes Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart and Conan O’Brien. The event is scheduled to air on Netflix on July 21.
