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West Point Alumni Cancel Tom Hanks Award Ceremony as Trump Cheers the Decision

The move reflects mounting political scrutiny of U.S. service academies under the Trump administration.

Tom Hanks was set to receive an award at West Point, but the ceremony has now been canceled.
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President Donald Trump praised West Point’s decision to cancel an award ceremony for Tom Hanks, lashing out at the Oscar-winning actor as “woke” and “destructive.”

Overview

  • Retired Col. Mark Bieger, head of the West Point Association of Graduates, told faculty in an email that the Sept. 25 Thayer Award ceremony would not be held so the academy can focus on its core mission, The Washington Post first reported.
  • It remains unclear whether Tom Hanks will still receive the Sylvanus Thayer Award, and West Point, the alumni association and Hanks’ representatives have not provided clarification.
  • President Trump praised the cancellation on Truth Social, calling Hanks "woke" and celebrating the decision as an "important move."
  • The alumni group announced Hanks as the 2025 honoree in June, citing decades of support for veterans and military portrayals including Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and related initiatives.
  • Coverage places the cancellation within broader Trump-era changes at service academies, including rollbacks of DEI initiatives and heightened reviews of leadership and curriculum.