President Donald Trump has called for the Academy Awards to overhaul their standards and practices following West Point’s cancellation of an award ceremony honoring actor Tom Hanks, according to a Truth Social post made on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The West Point Association of Graduates announced in June that Hanks would receive the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award, the organization’s top civilian honor recognizing an outstanding citizen who embodies “Duty, Honor, Country.” However, the ceremony scheduled for September was cancelled amid what sources described as political turbulence at the academy.
Trump celebrated the West Point decision in his social media post, stating that the institution “smartly cancelled the Award Ceremony for actor Tom Hanks.” He characterized this as an important move, suggesting that destructive recipients should not receive cherished American awards.
The president then directed his criticism toward Hollywood award shows, particularly the Academy Awards. He urged these organizations to review their standards and practices in the name of fairness and justice, predicting that such changes would cause their ratings to surge. Trump has previously criticized what he considers biased award ceremonies and suggested that conservative viewpoints are underrepresented in entertainment industry recognition.
Hanks, 69, has been a longtime advocate for veterans and military heritage through his roles in films such as “Saving Private Ryan” and the miniseries “Band of Brothers.” He has also supported the Eisenhower memorial and the National World War II Museum. The West Point alumni board initially praised the actor’s decades of work portraying and supporting service members and veterans.
Board chair Robert McDonald had stated in June that Hanks had done more for the positive portrayal of American service members than many other Americans. The actor’s military-themed work has consistently honored the sacrifices and experiences of those who served in various conflicts, particularly World War II.
However, Hanks has been critical of Trump in the past and participated in political events supporting the former Biden administration. He spoke at a Biden fundraiser in 2020 and hosted the Celebrating America broadcast in 2021, activities that may have contributed to the current controversy surrounding his planned honor.
Jason Dempsey, a West Point alumnus and former instructor, suggested that academy leaders would have been uncomfortable in the current political environment. He described the situation as an example of someone being good for the military but not perfectly aligned with current partisan priorities.
The cancellation appears to be part of a broader pattern of politically motivated decisions affecting cultural institutions and awards ceremonies. There was no indication that the White House directly ordered the West Point event to be scrapped, but the timing suggests sensitivity to political considerations within military educational institutions.
The Sylvanus Thayer Award has previously honored notable figures who did not attend West Point but made significant contributions to American society. The award ceremony’s cancellation represents an unusual departure from the tradition of recognizing civilian contributions to military causes and veteran support.
It remains unclear whether Hanks will still receive the medal despite the ceremony’s cancellation. The West Point Association of Graduates has not provided additional details about their decision or any alternative arrangements for recognizing the actor’s contributions to military-themed entertainment and veteran advocacy.
Trump’s call for Academy Awards reform reflects his ongoing criticism of what he perceives as liberal bias in entertainment industry institutions. His suggestion that ratings would improve with different standards and practices echoes longstanding conservative complaints about political messaging in award show ceremonies and winner selections.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has not responded to Trump’s demands for changes to their evaluation processes. The organization has faced various criticisms over the years regarding diversity, political messaging, and selection criteria for nominees and winners across different award categories.
This latest controversy highlights the intersection of politics and cultural recognition in American institutions. The dispute over Hanks’ honor demonstrates how political considerations can influence decisions about awards and ceremonies, even those traditionally focused on non-partisan achievements and contributions to society.
