President Donald Trump has called for sweeping changes to Academy Awards standards and practices after West Point’s alumni association cancelled a ceremony honoring actor Tom Hanks, escalating his broader campaign against what he terms “woke” award recipients.
The controversy erupted Monday, September 8, when Trump posted on Truth Social, celebrating the West Point Association of Graduates’ decision to cancel its award ceremony for Hanks. The 69-year-old actor was scheduled to receive the organization’s top civilian honor, the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award.
Trump praised the military academy’s reversal, stating that the institution had “smartly cancelled the Award Ceremony for actor Tom Hanks” and declaring it an “Important move! We don’t need destructive, WOKE recipients getting our cherished American Awards!!!” The president then directly challenged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to follow suit.
The president argued that such changes would benefit the Academy Awards and other award shows, claiming they should review their standards in the name of fairness and justice. Trump predicted that implementing such reforms would cause their “DEAD RATINGS SURGE!”
The Washington Post first reported the cancellation of Hanks’ recognition by the West Point alumni group. The Sylvanus Thayer Award traditionally honors outstanding citizens who did not attend the military academy but embody the institution’s core values of “Duty, Honor, Country.”
West Point’s alumni board had announced Hanks’ selection in June, praising his decades of work portraying and supporting service members and veterans. Board chair Robert McDonald stated at the time that Hanks had done more for the positive portrayal of American service members than many other Americans.
Hanks has maintained a longtime advocacy for veterans and military heritage through various projects and initiatives. His involvement includes starring roles in “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers,” as well as supporting the Eisenhower memorial and the National WWII Museum. The actor also spoke at a Biden fundraiser in 2020 and hosted the Celebrating America broadcast in 2021.
The ceremony cancellation reportedly followed political turbulence at the academy this year, though no indication exists that the White House ordered the event scrapped. Jason Dempsey, a West Point alumnus and former instructor, suggested that leaders would have been uncomfortable in the current environment, describing the situation as an example of someone being good for the military but not perfectly aligned with current partisan priorities.
The status of whether Hanks will still receive the medal remains unclear following the ceremony’s cancellation.
This incident represents part of Trump’s broader pattern of challenging entertainment industry awards and cultural institutions. The president has previously criticized various award shows and their recipients, arguing that they have become too political and disconnected from mainstream American values.
The Academy Awards has faced declining viewership in recent years, though industry experts attribute this trend to various factors, including streaming service competition and changing viewing habits rather than political considerations. Trump’s assertion that implementing his suggested changes would boost ratings remains unsubstantiated.
The West Point alumni association’s decision affects not only Hanks but also sets a precedent for how military-affiliated organizations may handle civilian honors in the current political climate.
