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The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, labeled actor Tom Hanks as “destructive” and “woke,” following the announcement of the cancellation of a ceremony in his honor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
The president publicly celebrated the decision through his social media platform Truth Social, where he praised the measure as an act of justice against what he described as "destructive awardees."
"Our great West Point (getting better and better!) has wisely canceled the award ceremony for actor Tom Hanks. An important decision! We don't need destructive and woke awardees receiving our cherished American awards. I hope the Academy Awards and other phony award shows reassess their standards and practices in the name of equity and justice. Watch as their MORIBUND AUDIENCE RATINGS plummet!" Trump wrote this Monday.
The controversy erupted after West Point canceled an event intended to honor Hanks, who has portrayed military figures in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump.
Although the reasons for the cancellation have not been officially detailed, Trump's reaction suggests ideological reasons linked to the actor's positions.
Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner known for his social activism, has previously criticized the Trump administration and has supported progressive causes. The term 'woke', used by the president as a critique, is employed in conservative circles to derogatorily refer to advocates of racial and social equity.
Trump's comment has reignited the debate over the increasing politicization in the cultural and military industries of the United States, as well as the role of public figures in the current context of political polarization in the country.
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