It was an evening to honor David Letterman, but anti-President Trump sentiment and the current political climate hung over the comedic festivities at the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

A slew of A-listers — including Amy Schumer, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Jimmy Kimmel — touched down in Washington on Sunday for the Kennedy Center’s ode to the former CBS “Late Show” host.

The evening kicked off with a somewhat awkward start, when Kennedy Center Board Chairman David Rubenstein during an intro to the show announced a list of supporters of the D.C. fine arts institution, including Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report NEA president says Azar and DeVos should resign over school reopening guidance The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - You might want to download TikTok now MORE. A chorus of “boos” could be heard throughout the crowd as DeVos’s name was mentioned.

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Kimmel — who’s seen ratings for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" spike as his ABC late-night show has become increasingly political — took to the stage to salute one of his comedic heroes.

“When Dave left 17 long months ago, we had no idea how much trouble we were in for,” Kimmel said.

“This is your fault. All of it. Everything was fine until you went off the air,” Kimmel told Letterman as the former CBS funnyman looked on from the audience with his wife and 13-year-old son.

Without naming the president, Kimmel made a reference to Trump in a mock-scolding to Letterman: “You’ve abandoned us. You went out with a pack of cigarettes and left us to live with an abusive orange stepfather.”

Kimmel continued: “You led the way for all of us with your intelligence, humor and empathy.”

"Especially since November, when we kicked open the portal to hell," he quickly added.

Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenGOP Senate candidate says Trump, Republicans will surprise in Minnesota Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district Getting tight — the psychology of cancel culture MORE (D-Minn.) said Letterman “changed late-night forever,” before turning to a hot-button political issue.

Letterman, Franken said, is now taking time to tackle “issues that mean something to him, like the existential threat of climate change — something that’s been a focus of mine in the Senate.”

The lawmaker and Letterman talked climate change as part of a "Funny or Die" web series that debuted earlier this year.

Michelle Obama Michelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaTo honor Justice Ginsburg's legacy, Biden should consider Michelle Obama National Urban League, BET launch National Black Voter Day The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill MORE also made a surprise appearance in a recorded video message to Letterman.

“That’s what I love most about Dave: that he's always such a knowledgeable and passionate interviewer who cares deeply about a wide range of issues,” the former first lady said.

“For over 30 years, on late-night TV, no matter what was going on around us, we all knew that Dave would be there for us when we needed a laugh,” Obama said.

Saying she and former President Obama “love him,” the ex-executive mansion resident said, “We are grateful to you for all the humor and joy you brought into our lives.”

Letterman, 70, quipped during his acceptance speech, “Because of this award, I’m now the most humorous person in the world.”

He credited the assistance of others for his professional success, sharing with the crowd, “We have to help each other, or nothing will happen.”

A fierce critic of Trump, Letterman ended the night with a quote from Twain: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

Trump tweeted the same Twain quote in a 2014 Twitter post.

The prize ceremony at the Kennedy Center will air on PBS stations nationwide on Nov. 20.