Trump praises West Point group for canceling event honoring Tom Hanks

Donald Trump on Monday applauded the decision by a group of West Point alumni to cancel an event honoring actor Tom Hanks, citing a desire for the military academy to focus on preparing future officers for war, reported The Washington Post.

"Our great West Point (getting greater all the time!) has smartly cancelled the Award Ceremony for actor Tom Hanks," wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social. "We don’t need destructive, WOKE recipients getting our cherished American Awards!!! Hopefully the Academy Awards, and other Fake Award Shows, will review their Standards and Practices in the name of Fairness and Justice."

According to The Washington Post, retired Army Col. Mark Bieger, president and CEO of the Association of West Point Graduates, made the decision known Friday in an email sent to the faculty.

Bieger wrote that the alumni association, in coordination with the academy, "will not be holding the Thayer Award ceremony." The email, accessed by The Washington Post, did not specify whether Hanks' award had been revoked or whether it would be presented in some other format.

"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," Bieger added.

Hanks was to receive the Sylvanus Thayer Award, which recognizes a citizen who exemplifies the academy's values of "Duty, Honor, Country." The ceremony and parade were scheduled for Sept. 25.