Bill Maher to receive Mark Twain comedy prize at Kennedy Center in Washington

By Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Reuters) - Comedian Bill Maher, a frequent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at Washington's Kennedy Center in June, the venue announced on Thursday.

Maher has hosted "Real Time with Bill Maher" on HBO since 2003, a weekly show in which he interviews celebrity guests and politicians about current events and social issues, as well as giving a comedy monologue.

Trump has taken steps to remake the Kennedy Center as part of his effort to reshape U.S. historical and cultural institutions. He has renamed the arts center the Trump Kennedy Center and appointed a new board to oversee it. The center is scheduled to close in July for a two-year renovation.

The 70-year-old Maher often bashes Trump's actions and policies. In February, the Republican Trump said on social media that he regretted inviting Maher to dinner at the White House and called the comedian "a highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT" and a "jerk."

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether Trump was involved in Maher's selection or his reaction to it.

In a statement, Maher thanked "the Mark Twain people."

"I just had the award explained to me, and apparently it's like an Emmy, except I win," Maher said.

Maher has been nominated for over 40 Emmy Awards and won one, as a producer of the news program "Vice."

The Mark Twain ceremony, which will take place on June 28, just ahead of the scheduled closure, will stream on Netflix NFLX.O on a date to be announced.

Previous recipients have included Conan O'Brien, Carol Burnett and Tina Fey.