Trump celebrates West Point alumni group canceling award ceremony to honor Tom Hanks
September 8, 2025
President Donald Trump celebrated news that an alumni group from West Point canceled an award ceremony set to honor Tom Hanks. Hanks was scheduled to receive the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award on Sept. 25, but news reports say the U.S. Military Academy’s alumni association canceled the ceremony last week. West Point, its alumni association and a representative for Hanks did not respond to messages seeking comment Monday. It comes as Trump has moved to direct the ideology and leadership of higher education institutes and the military in his second term, seeking to assert control with a mix of executive orders and threats of legal action and withholding funds.