The planned celebration to honor Tom Hanks with one of West Point’s most prestigious awards has been abruptly canceled, thrusting the storied military academy into the heart of a heated national debate over politics, history, and the role of the armed forces. The decision, announced on September 5, 2025, by Retired Army Col. Mark Bieger, president and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates, stunned many who had looked forward to seeing the two-time Oscar winner recognized for his decades-long advocacy on behalf of veterans and his positive portrayals of American service members on screen.
The ceremony, originally scheduled for September 25, was to bestow the Sylvanus Thayer Award upon Hanks. This honor is reserved for citizens who did not attend West Point but whose service and accomplishments exemplify the academy’s revered motto: "Duty, Honor, Country." According to The Washington Post, Bieger informed faculty in an email that the alumni association “will not be holding the Thayer Award ceremony,” adding, “This decision allows the Academy to continue its focus on its core mission of preparing cadets to lead, fight, and win as officers in the world’s most lethal force, the United States Army.”
However, the message left a critical question hanging in the air: Would Hanks still receive the award, or had it been revoked altogether? Bieger did not clarify, and repeated requests for comment from both the alumni association and Hanks’ representatives went unanswered, as reported by Deadline and Variety. The ambiguity has only fueled speculation and controversy, especially as the Trump administration’s interventions at military academies and Ivy League institutions have come under increasing scrutiny.
Hanks, widely celebrated for his military-related film roles—including his iconic performance in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan—and for executive producing acclaimed miniseries like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air, was recognized in June 2025 for his advocacy on behalf of veterans. His contributions include serving as spokesperson for the National World War II Memorial (alongside the late Senator Bob Dole), chairing the D-Day Museum Capital Campaign, and leading the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes campaign, for which he received the Caregiver Champion Award. The foundation even named its veterans caregiving award after him.
In the original announcement, Robert A. McDonald, chairman of the alumni board, praised Hanks, saying, “Tom Hanks has done more for the positive portrayal of the American service member, more for the caring of the American veteran, their caregivers and their family, and more for the American space program and all branches of government than many other Americans.” Hanks himself responded with humility: “West Point’s legacy of leadership, character, and service to the nation is a powerful example for all Americans. To be recognized by an institution whose graduates have shaped our country’s history through selfless service is both humbling and meaningful.”
Yet, as Fox News and Variety noted, the honor became a flashpoint. Hanks, though less overtly political than some Hollywood peers, has publicly supported Barack Obama and Joe Biden—he even hosted Biden’s inaugural special, Celebrating America, in 2021. His portrayal of a recurring MAGA character, Doug, on "Saturday Night Live" has drawn backlash from Trump supporters, and his political stances have not gone unnoticed by those in power.
The cancellation comes amid a broader campaign by President Donald Trump to reshape America’s leading academic and military institutions. Early in 2025, Trump signed an executive order instructing the secretaries of defense and homeland security to review the leadership, curriculum, and instructors at the nation’s service academies. The order mandated the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and required institutions to teach that “America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history.”
Just hours after the Post’s story broke, Donald Trump Jr. took to social media to praise the move, writing, “Great to see [Secretary of War Pete Hegseth] holding the line for @realdonaldtrump to make the military strong again. West Point should be focused on training the next generation of war fighters, not celebrating woke leftwing celebrities with awards!!!” The message resonated with many Trump supporters, who have increasingly criticized what they see as the politicization of military institutions.
The administration’s influence has extended well beyond West Point’s awards calendar. On September 5, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appeared with President Trump in the Oval Office to announce a proposal to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a change requiring Congressional approval. Hegseth declared the move as “restoring the warrior ethos, restoring victory and clarity as an end state.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon reinstalled a portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in West Point’s library in late August, a reversal of its removal in 2020 following a Congressional mandate. Army communications director Rebecca Hodson defended the decision, stating, “Under this administration, we honor our history and learn from it — we don’t erase it,” as reported by The New York Times and Variety.
The fate of the Thayer Award itself remains uncertain. While the ceremony is off, there has been no official word on whether Hanks will receive the honor in some other form or if the recognition has been quietly withdrawn. The silence from both West Point officials and Hanks’ camp has left supporters and critics alike to draw their own conclusions.
For many, the episode is emblematic of the larger cultural and political battles playing out across the country. Some see the cancellation as a necessary refocusing of West Point’s mission amid what they view as creeping politicization and celebrity culture. Others argue that honoring someone like Hanks—whose work and advocacy have brought national attention to the sacrifices of American service members—should transcend partisan lines.
As pollster Frank Luntz told Fox News after speaking with West Point cadets, there’s a sense that the academy is grappling with its identity at a time of intense national polarization. The question, perhaps, is not just about Tom Hanks or a single award, but about the values and history West Point—and, by extension, the country—chooses to honor.
With the ceremony canceled and the future of the award unclear, the episode has left a distinct mark on West Point’s legacy and on the ongoing debate over how America remembers its heroes and tells its story.
