Conan O’Brien Says It Was “Important” to Attend Kennedy Center Mark Twain Event Despite Trump Overhaul

In light of President Donald Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center, Conan O’Brien initially pondered skipping the Mark Twain event scheduled for March 23. Yet, after careful thought, he decided it was significant to make an appearance amidst the ongoing controversy.

Over the past couple of months under the new government, there’s been some contentious activity surrounding the Kennedy Center, as O’Brien discussed during a recent episode of his “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast. The question on everyone’s mind was whether or not he should attend.

Eventually, the comedian recognized the importance of attending the ceremony and receiving the lifetime achievement award in comedy, which was a way of acknowledging and appreciating the recently dismissed board members who had chosen him for this honor.

He shared that he believed it was necessary for him to attend since we had initially joined under the previous leadership. Now, those who originally invited him aren’t present anymore, but he felt it appropriate to uphold their choice as a mark of respect.

Following his reinstatement as power, Trump declared his intention to dismiss several members from the Board of Trustees via Truth Social in February. Subsequently, he assumed the role of chairman at the Kennedy Center after a vote that led to the dismissal of its long-standing president Deborah Rutter.

O’Brien affirmed his decision to join the event on his podcast, remarking that the evening was delightful as he had the chance to network with numerous young individuals who have been associated with the Kennedy Center for quite some time. He further expressed his compassion towards their circumstances since many staff members were facing tough times and were uncertain about the center’s future.

Previously, the host of “The Tonight Show” recognized the somber nature of the events taking place at the venue. However, he pointed out that there was an unusual quality to the situation that seemed to infuse the evening with a certain energy. O’Brien continued, “It didn’t feel like a typical occurrence, and we all had to be witty, yet maintain an air of optimism.

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2025-04-04 01:54