Comedian Bill Maher accepted the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on Sunday night. As the guest of honor, Maher took the stage for an annual event that was once expected to be the institution's last major event before a two-year closure.
The ceremony took place amid upheaval and questions regarding the future of the arts institution. President Donald Trump took over the center at the start of his second term, and the facility continues to be described as troubled.
A frequent critic of President Trump, Maher received the award at a venue that once bore the president's name. Currently, a tarp continues to cover the forced removal of the president's name.