Retired Col. Mark Bieger told West Point faculty on Friday the West Point Association of Graduates would no longer hold a ceremony to give Hanks, 69, the Sylvanus Thayer Award, the Washington Post reported, citing a copy of Bieger’s message.
Bieger wrote in his email the decision was made to allow 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.”
It’s not immediately clear, despite Bieger noting West Point would “focus on its core mission.” President Donald Trump has issued some changes at the academy, including rolling back programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the armed forces, saying those at U.S. service academies would face scrutiny. Jen Easterly, who served as cybersecurity chief during the Biden administration, was dismissed in June following complaints from Trump loyalist Laura Loomer, who claimed Easterly and other Biden leftovers were “undermining the Trump administration.” Hanks fundraised for President Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020 and appeared in a video for the Biden administration a year into Biden’s presidency.
Hanks, 69, has a history of making anti-Trump comments and a track record of donating thousands to Democrats, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
The “Forrest Gump” actor infamously portrayed supporters of President Trump as a racist in a skit on the “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary special, in February, playing a character hesitant to shake a black man’s hand.
In 2021 Hanks hosted Biden’s prime-time TV special.
“This day is about witnessing the permanence of our American ideal,” Hanks said during the Biden show, which commemorated the president’s inauguration.
And in 2022, the “Saving Private Ryan” actor narrated a video in 2022 of the Biden administration’s accomplishments in its first year, insisting the country is “stronger than we were a year ago today.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9MgjAV7CRE
When you are an actor and decide to mix in some highly volitile political rehtoric, well you get what you paid for Thomas.