Trump rejoices over scrapped Tom Hanks event ceremony: "Detrimental"

Tom Hanks' recognition event at the United States Military Academy West Point, scheduled for September 25, has been called off.

, and Administrator

2025 September 16 . 5:31 PM

1 min read

Trump applauds the scrapped event honoring Tom Hanks: "Detrimental"

Trump rejoices over scrapped Tom Hanks event ceremony: "Detrimental"

In an unexpected turn of events, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has cancelled the award ceremony for renowned actor Tom Hanks. The actor, known for his portrayal of military characters in films like 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Forrest Gump', and 'Greyhound', was set to receive the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award.

The Sylvanus Thayer Award, given by West Point Academy, is bestowed upon a "notable citizen" who has made significant contributions to the nation. Hanks, who is one of the most awarded actors in the United States, with seven Emmys and two Oscars under his belt, was to be recognised for his work and care for veterans.

The cancellation was announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, with the President praising the decision. Trump opposed awarding "destructive, woke" individuals like Hanks, who is known as a Trump critic and for his portrayals of American soldiers. The ceremony was cancelled to focus on the academy's core mission, though the decision had political undertones.

Hanks, who did not attend the West Point academy, is a known Democrat sympathizer and publicly supported Joe Biden during the 2020 election campaign, as well as Kamala Harris' campaign last year. The cancellation of the award ceremony comes amidst Trump's criticism of Hanks' political stance.

It is unknown if the award will be given at another time. West Point Academy has not yet released a statement regarding the future of the award for Hanks.

In a related development, the White House asked the Supreme Court to keep frozen funds in foreign aid. This request is unrelated to the Tom Hanks controversy.