The recent Mark Twain Prize ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., honoring comedian Conan O’Brien, turned into an unexpected stage for comedians to address President Donald Trump’s recent actions involving the arts institution.
O’Brien, aged 61, was awarded the prize on Sunday, March 23, 2025, during an event attended by several comedy icons, such as Stephen Colbert, John Mulaney, Sarah Silverman, Adam Sandler, David Letterman, and Tracy Morgan.
Throughout the ceremony, comedians made references to Trump’s February move to dismantle the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and appoint himself as chairman.
“It’s an honor to be here at the Kennedy Center, or as it will be known next week, the ‘Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big, Strong Men Who Love Cats,'” quipped comedian John Mulaney on stage, alluding to Trump’s controversial lawyer from the 1950s.
Sarah Silverman addressed O’Brien directly during her performance, saying, “I just really miss the days when you were America’s only orange a–hole.”
Stephen Colbert made comments about what he described as controversial appointments and spoke about “right wings” during a segment that parodied O’Brien’s Hot Ones appearance.
Martin Short, appearing via video, speculated about the award’s future, suggesting O’Brien could be the “last-ever” recipient of the Twain Prize at the center.
The political backdrop relates to Trump’s unusual actions regarding the Kennedy Center in February, when he removed longtime president Deborah Rutter and installed himself as chairman, replacing David Rubenstein. This marked the first occasion a sitting president has directly intervened in the leadership of the institution in its half-century history.
These alterations have already impacted programming, with some productions, such as “Hamilton,” pulling their shows in protest. Trump has shown interest in introducing what he terms “non-woke” programming to the center and has claimed the building requires repairs despite reported financial stability.
O’Brien himself addressed the situation with his trademark humor when speaking on the red carpet: “Only he knows his priorities best. There’s a lot going on in the world, but probably taking control of the Kennedy Center should be at the top of the list.”
In his acceptance speech, O’Brien acknowledged the former leadership team of Rutter and Rubenstein, expressing perplexity over their absence and joking that they might be stuck in traffic. He also recognized Kennedy Center staff members concerned about their future, prompting a standing ovation.
O’Brien concluded by reflecting on Mark Twain’s nuanced perspective on patriotism, noting Twain’s belief that patriotism means supporting one’s country always, and the government when it deserves it.
David Letterman, a former recipient of the award, offered perhaps the most explicit political commentary of the evening by suggesting the event would be remembered as the most entertaining gathering of resistance.
While Trump aides reportedly attended, the president himself was not present. The ceremony is set to stream on Netflix on May 4, 2025.
O’Brien was announced as the recipient in mid-January, prior to Trump’s changes in Kennedy Center leadership, resulting in a ceremony that evolved from a celebration of American comedy into what many viewed as a thinly veiled political protest.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor has been awarded since 1998 to individuals who have made a significant impact on American society, akin to the 19th-century writer. Previous recipients include Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, and Lily Tomlin.
