A West Point alumni group canceled a planned tribute to actor and veterans advocate Tom Hanks on the same day President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense to be renamed the Department of War, the organization announced.
The West Point Association of Graduates said it had called off an awards ceremony that had been scheduled for Sept. 25, when Hanks was to receive the Sylvanus Thayer Award, a prize the association gives to non-alumni whose lives and work it says reflect the academy's motto, "Duty, Honor, Country." The association's president and chief executive, retired Army Col. Mark Bieger, notified members by email that the event would not proceed.
The cancellation came the day Trump formally rebranded the Pentagon, a move the president defended by saying the military had become "very politically correct or wokey" and the United States was "not winning wars." White House officials have described the decision as part of an effort to sharpen the military's focus on combat readiness.
In his message to members, Bieger said the association's decision would allow the academy to "continue its focus on its core mission of preparing cadets to lead, fight, and win as officers." The association did not provide additional details about whether the award would be rescheduled or presented in another form.
Hanks, a prominent supporter of veterans' causes, has never served in the military. The intended tribute drew attention this month after Hanks was criticized on social media for a sketch on Saturday Night Live in which he portrayed a pro-Trump character; the criticism focused on the sketch's depiction of political supporters. The association did not cite the social media reaction as a reason for the cancellation.
The Sylvanus Thayer Award has historically been presented to civilians who the academy says exemplify the values of West Point. Past recipients have included business leaders, public servants and other non-graduates whose careers the association judged consistent with the academy's stated principles.
Officials at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point declined immediate comment. A Pentagon spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment about whether the Pentagon's renaming influenced the association's decision.
The renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War represents a significant symbolic shift in how the administration describes the nation's military apparatus. The change prompted debate among lawmakers, veterans' groups and defense analysts about the implications for civilian oversight, military planning and international signaling. Some supporters of the move argue the new name reflects a focus on combat effectiveness, while critics say it risks politicizing or militarizing the department's mission.
The West Point Association of Graduates functions as the official alumni organization for the academy, coordinating events, awards and alumni programs. Its announcement to cancel the Hanks tribute underscored how the administration's high-profile policy decisions can ripple into civic and ceremonial activities tied to military institutions.
It remained unclear whether the Sylvanus Thayer Award will be conferred upon Hanks at a later date or whether the association will select an alternative recipient for 2025. The association said it would provide further information to members when available.