‘So Stupid!’ Bill Maher Rips Artists Ditching Kennedy Center Performances Over Trump Name Flap

Bill Maher criticized artists who have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center over the efforts to put President Donald Trump’s name on the building.

In an extended, online-exclusive clip from Maher’s interview on ABC’s This Week Sunday, the HBO Real Time host — who was honored at the Kennedy Center in late June with the prestigious Mark Twain prize — called out the performers who have dropped out because of Trump.

“You’ve seen all these people that once he took over the Kennedy Center refused to be there, dropped out of performances,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl told Maher.

“That’s so stupid!” Maher replied. “First of all, you’re just giving him the victory. He doesn’t own the Kennedy Center. He doesn’t own comedy. Life goes on. That’s the message I would send.”

Maher explained that he wasn’t going to let the specter of Trump hang over a ceremony paying tribute to him.

“I’ve always watched the Kennedy Center honors,” Maher said. “This is kind of like that but for one guy. It’s the same thing. You’re up in the box, you know, it’s awesome. It’s great, and it’s rare, and it’s America. And he doesn’t own that either, you know. The idea that you people who just let him ruin everything…”

The ceremony took place shortly after a federal judge ordered Trump’s name removed from the building, and a tarp was put up — which officials have said was necessary for maintenance — but critics claim was done just to obstruct visitors from seeing the name of John F. Kennedy. Maher saluted the move from a pure comedy standpoint.

“It’s like, checkmate!” Maher said. “You can’t even think like he does in certain ways, like the tarp on over the name. I wouldn’t have even thought to go there, and yet you — unique man that you are — thought of it… It’s hysterical!”

Watch above, via ABC. (The relevant portion begins at roughly the 2:00 mark.)

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