Never the twain shall meet – AKA Donald and drag: A bridge too far?

Photo collage: NPR

Conan O’Brien and other top comedians brutally humiliate Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center — ripping into the “orange a**hole” despite the MAGA coup to seize control of the famous cultural center.

CONTEXT

The John F Kennedy Centre for the performing arts, Washington D. C.

Since the early 1960s the John J Kennedy Centre has been a world-class center for the performing arts in D. C. The Center’s mission is established in its authorizing statute: present classical and contemporary music, opera, drama, dance, and other performing arts from the United States and other countries; promote and maintain the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the National Center for the Performing Arts; strive to ensure that the education and outreach programs and policies of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts meet the highest level of excellence and reflect the cultural diversity of the United States.

Recently, the cultural center has been in the headlines not for art but rather, politics. President Donald Trump recently announced a massive overhaul at the Kennedy Center leadership that included the termination of multiple board of trustees members, including Chairman David Rubenstein. And Trump named Rubenstein’s replacement: himself.

The reason for the changes, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, was the center’s decision to host drag show performances at its venue. President Trump’s actions prompted additional members to resign) as he installed himself as the new chair. In response to all the upheaval, multiple stars and artists have cut ties with the Kennedy Center.

The Mark Twain Prize

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is an American award presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. annually since 1998. Named after the 19th-century humorist Mark Twain, it is presented to individuals who have “had an impact on American society in ways similar to” Twain.

The Kennedy Center chose Twain in recognition of his role as a controversial social commentator and his “uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly”

Text from Julie Westcott Weissend on Facebook

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THE EVENT

“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,’” Comedian John Mulaney joked on stage.

The crowd was gathered to honor O’Brien as he received the coveted “Mark Twain Prize for American Humor” which is handed out to “the world’s greatest humorists.”

“I just really miss the days when you were America’s only orange a**hole,” Sarah Silverman joked to O’Brien, prompting a roar of laughter from the audience which also included David Letterman, Tracy Morgan, and Adam Sandler.

Stephen Colbert observed that the Kennedy Center has become “a very different place” under Trump, adding: “Today, they announced two board members: Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor.”

Colbert also parodied O’Brien’s popular appearance on the Hot Ones podcast, appearing on stage in a costume to joke: “In light of the new leadership at the Kennedy Center, all of these are right wings.”

The blast of jokes at Trump’s expense comes at a time when he is furiously abusing his power as president to reshape the Kennedy Center.

He named himself chairman of the center and has installed his cronies on the board.

O’Brien was named the Mark Twain recipient weeks before Trump began the reshaping.

“Thanks to my people who invited me here a few months ago: Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein,” O’Brien said during his acceptance speech, referrinpatriotism,hg to the former board member and chair that Trump removed.

“Honestly, I don’t know why they aren’t here tonight. I lost Wi Fi in January—guessing they’re in traffic,” he continued.

“And a special thanks to all the beautiful people who have worked here at the Kennedy Center for years and who are worried about what the future might bring,” he added.

“Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the world. 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.’ Now, some of you, some of you might be thinking, ‘what does this have to do with comedy?’” said O’Brien.

“Twain is funny and important today because his comedy is a hilarious celebration of our fears, our ineptitude, and the glorious mess of being human,” he added.

O’Brien also addressed Trump’s efforts to reshape the Kennedy Center while on the red carpet—

“Only he knows his priorities best,” said the comedian. “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.”

“I’m not a historian, but I believe that history will show this will be the most entertaining gathering of the resistance ever,” said David Letterman, himself a former Mark Twain Prize winner.

The award show will air on Netflix eventually, at which point we should expect a deranged angry outburst from our “orange a**hole” president.

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