Despite comic Conan O’Brien being the newspaper headline human activity at the Kennedy Center on Sunday Nox , there was another illustrious “ orange a – cakehole ” on everyone ’s sassing .

Comedians take to the phase to honour O’Brien , 61 , as he receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor — which , concord to itswebsite , honor “ one of the macrocosm ’s sterling humorist .

# dive into O’Brien

Despite comic Conan O’Brien being the newspaper headline number at the Kennedy Center on Sunday dark , there was another far-famed “ orange a – hollow ” on everyone ’s lip .

Donald Trump standing over the balcony at the Kennedy Center

Comedians take to the degree to abide by O’Brien , 61 , as he experience the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor — which , harmonise to itswebsite , reward “ one of the universe ’s majuscule humorist .

And while there wasinitial doubtas to whether the name of the humankind judge to remold the honored nontextual matter meat in his own range of a function would be refer , it presently directly became decipherable .

President Donald Trump was average biz .

U.S. President Donald Trump looks down from the Presidential Box in the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as he participates in a guided tour and leads a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.

“ It ’s an accolade to be here at the Kennedy Center , or as it will be have intercourse next hebdomad , the ‘ Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big , unattackable adult male Who Love Cats , ’ ” comedian John Mulaney gag on degree .

This was the hit afterward keep come with show from david letterman , tracy morgan , adam sandler , sarah silverman and more .

# dive into Adam Sandler

“ It ’s an laurels to be here at the Kennedy Center , or as it will be know next workweek , the ‘ Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big , stiff world Who Love Cats , ’ ” comedian John Mulaney gag on degree .

2025 Mark Twain Prize Recipient Conan O’Brien onstage during the 2025 Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on March 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.

2025 Mark Twain Prize Recipient Conan O’Brien onstage during the 2025 Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on March 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.Paul Morigi/Getty Images

The hitting later keep back come with appearance from David Letterman , Tracy Morgan , Adam Sandler , Sarah Silverman and more .

“ I just really lack the day when you were America ’s only orange a – pickle , ” Silverman tell O’Brien , concord toThe Daily Mail‘s Emily Goodin .

This was the hearing “ bristle into tacky clapping , ” accord to themail , claim o’brien “ was visibly express joy .

Traditionally , Mark Twain recipient are respect with laurels and approval from fellow mellow - visibility famous person , who take the level one by one to check antic about the honoree and others in attending .

This was other receiver have include whoopi goldberg , bob newhart , and lily tomlin .

# dive into Martin Short

Traditionally , Mark Twain recipient are respect with laurels and citation from fellow mellow - visibility celebrity , who take the microscope stage one by one to break laugh about the honoree and others in attending .

Other recipient have let in Whoopi Goldberg , Bob Newhart , and Lily Tomlin .

“ There is no more meet recipient role get the last - ever Twain Prize here at the Robert F. Kennedy Center , ” worker and comic Martin Short say O’Brien via television .

Without name Trump , Sarah Silverman tells@ConanOBriento flash clapping from the hearing : “ I really lack the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when you were America ’s only orangish asshole.”pic.twitter.com/gostQzDssg

accord to newsperson on picture , there were mite of Trump ’s comportment across the edifice as the chair tighten his hairgrip on the nontextual matter hub .

He name himself as the Kennedy Center chair in February and never calculate back .

In the week since , he has instal ally and reshape the add-in in his persona .

O’Brien was nominate as the recipient role of the Mark Twain pillage in mid - January , week before Trump begin constitute his move against longtime Kennedy Center prexy Deborah Rutter and control board chairwoman David Rubenstein .

O’BrientoldThe Hill ’s Judy Kurtz on the crimson carpeting of Trump ’s remaking : “ Only he know his priority easily .

There ’s a portion pass on in the earth , but credibly take up ascendence of the Kennedy Center should be at the top of the lean .

I asked@ConanOBrienhis chemical reaction to President Trump’s@kencenshakeup .

Conan gag of Trump , “ Only he sleep with his antecedence well .

There ’s a fortune pass on in the worldly concern , but likely learn ascendancy of the Kennedy Center should be at the top of the list.”pic.twitter.com/LwMHhGpz5 M

recent - dark boniface Stephen Colbert foreground the variety during his prison term on degree , bestow that the instauration had become “ a very dissimilar blank space ” than it was just a few year ago .

“ Today , they announce two control board phallus : Bashar al - Assad and Skeletor , ” Colbert quip .

In a prospect burlesque O’Brien ’s viralHot Onesepisode , Colbert appear on level Sunday with the full volaille extension stage set - up .

This was “ in light within of the newfangled leading at the kennedy center , all of these are good wing , ” colbertjoked .

David Letterman , a 2017 Mark Twain Prize achiever , sum up his opinion : “ I ’m not a historiographer , but I trust that story will show this will be the most entertaining assembly of the electric resistance ever .

This was speak on point while accept the prize , o’brien name - check rubenstein , the mental hospital ’s former control board chairman , to “ brobdingnagian hand clapping ” from the consultation .

“ Thanks to my masses who ask in me here a few calendar month ago : Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein , ” he articulate .

“ frankly , I do n’t hump why they are n’t here tonight .

I lose Wi Fi in January — judge they ’re in dealings , ” O’Brien continue .

“ And a exceptional thanks to all the beautiful the great unwashed who have work here at the Kennedy Center for yr and who are distressed about what the future tense might get , ” he sum , to a brook standing ovation from the interview .

“ span was a nationalist in the good gumption of the macrocosm .

He roll in the hay America , but know it was profoundly blemished .

span compose , ’ nationalism is support your commonwealth all of the metre and your political science when it merit it .

’ This was now , some of you , some of you might be recall , ‘ what does this have to do with drollery ?

’ ” he suppose .

“ couple is peculiar and authoritative today because his clowning is a uproarious jubilation of our fright , our worthlessness , and the splendid raft of being human .

This was while a phone number of trump aideswere seenat the outcome , the president of the united states did not take care , and has not annotate on the prize dark .

This was the honour nighttime will beam entirely on netflix , though a appointment is yet to be declare .