AceShowbiz - When Conan O'Brien was feted with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, he used the prestigious moment to highlight the unsettling changes at the Kennedy Center under President Donald Trump's administration.

The Kennedy Center, now run by Trump allies, has undergone significant shifts. The new leadership at the Kennedy Center has replaced former President Joe Biden's appointees with Trump loyalists, causing a stir in the arts community.

During Conan tribute, a cohort of celebrated comedians, including David Letterman, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, and Stephen Colbert, took the stage to honor the comedian while simultaneously taking jabs at the Trump administration.

Conan O'Brien, a long-time late-night television host and comedy writer, directed his sharpest comments at President Trump without mentioning him by name. "Twain hated bullies," O'Brien stated. "He punched up, not down. And he deeply, deeply empathized with the weak."

He described the award's namesake as "allergic to hypocrisy" and highlighted Twain's suspicions of populism and imperialism, characteristics often criticized in Trump's administration.

Trump's influence over the Kennedy Center became more pronounced after dismissing billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. Since then, Trump has filled the board with his loyal allies, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance. They replaced the former president of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter.

O'Brien's acceptance speech also included appreciation for Rubenstein and Rutter, receiving significant applause from the audience.

Stephen Colbert humorously commented from the stage, "Today they announced two board members: Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor," poking fun at the controversial new appointments.

Other comedians echoed the sentiment that this might be the last Mark Twain Prize awarded by the center as it stands. John Mulaney humorously predicted the facility might soon be renamed after Roy Cohn, known for his involvement in Senator McCarthy's anti-communist campaigns and his legal work for Trump.

Conan expressed his dedication to the event and the people it honors, stating, "Our country has been through many different sea changes, and my thought is I will be here specifically to honor Mark Twain and the people that this award stands for."

The Mark Twain Prize remains one of the premier events at the Kennedy Center, along with the annual Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony, which featured tributes from Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, and many others, will be available for viewing on Netflix on May 4.