In a night filled with laughter, legendary comedian Conan O’Brien received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, but the biggest punchlines of the evening were aimed at Donald Trump. Despite Trump’s controversial attempts to reshape the Kennedy Center’s leadership, O’Brien and a lineup of top comedians took the stage to deliver a brutal and hilarious roast of the former president.
Comedians Take Aim at Trump
The star-studded event, attended by comedy greats such as Stephen Colbert, John Mulaney, Sarah Silverman, David Letterman, Tracy Morgan, and Adam Sandler, quickly turned into a comedy battleground, with Trump as the main target.
John Mulaney kicked things off with a sharp quip:
“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.’”
Sarah Silverman followed with a jab at O’Brien that doubled as a Trump dig:
“I just really miss the days when you were America’s only orange a**hole.”
Stephen Colbert, never one to hold back, mocked Trump’s recent takeover of the Kennedy Center’s leadership, joking:
“Today, they announced two new board members: Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor.”
Colbert also referenced O’Brien’s famous Hot Ones interview, saying:
“In light of the new leadership at the Kennedy Center, all of these are right wings.”
Conan O’Brien’s Response
While accepting his award, O’Brien took a subtle but pointed dig at Trump’s attempts to install his allies at the Kennedy Center, thanking the previous board members Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein, whom Trump removed earlier this year.
“Honestly, I don’t know why they aren’t here tonight. I lost Wi-Fi in January—guessing they’re in traffic.”
He then turned to the importance of comedy in political resistance, quoting Mark Twain himself:
“Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the word. He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed. Twain wrote, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserves it.’”
A Night of Comedy and Resistance
On the red carpet, O’Brien didn’t hold back when asked about Trump’s controversial power grab at the Kennedy Center:
“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.”
David Letterman, another past Mark Twain Prize winner, summed up the night with a prediction:
“I’m not a historian, but I believe that history will show this will be the most entertaining gathering of the resistance ever.”
What’s Next?
The full event will air on Netflix, where it is expected to draw major viewership—and likely an angry social media response from Trump himself. As the Kennedy Center continues to be a cultural battleground, one thing remains clear: comedy is still one of the most powerful tools of resistance.
