Actor Tom Hanks who is a staunch liberal threw some shade at MS NOW while be interviewed by the network.
Hanks who attended the opening ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday afternoon was approached by MS NOW’s Jacob Soboroff for a quick interview.
As Soboroff approached Hanks, the actor asked Soboroff, “What can I do for the 800 people watching?”
Mediate provided a full transcript of what Hanks said in his MS NOW interview:
Tom Hanks took a savage dig at MS NOW during a live segment from the opening ceremony for The Obama Presidential Center, asking what he should do for the “800 people watching.”
MS NOW’s Jacob Soboroff was at the star-studded Thursday ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center and talked to supporters of former President Barack Obama as well as some of the celebrities in attendance during his extensive live coverage. At one point, Soboroff ran into Hanks, who gave an interview after having some fun at the network’s expense.
“What can I do for the 800 people watching MS NOW?” Hanks asked Soboroff.
“Oh, come on. We’re live on MS NOW,” Soboroff responded.
“Okay, add a zero to it if you need to,” Hanks joked.
“I would say millions now that you’re on our air,” Soboroff said.
“Alright, alright,” Hanks said before the proper interview began.
Hanks, who is currently starring in Toy Story 5, went on to praise Barack Obama’s words at the event, while also admitting the heat for the outdoor event was so problematic that he was applauding with his fan on his head at one point.
Watch here:
If MS NOW sounds unfamiliar you probably remember its former name MSNBC.
In November of 2025 the network changed its name after Comcast made the network independent from NBCUniversal.
Hanks wasn’t the only notable liberal in attendance.
USA Today provided a list of celebrities who attended the ceremony:
The grand opening event in Chicago, a day before Juneteenth on Thursday, June 18, has brought out Hollywood legends and entertainment’s biggest stars, many of whom are friends of the Obamas. Media maven Oprah Winfrey, tennis legend Billie Jean King, filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Conan O’Brien, Gabrielle Union, Quinta Brunson, LL Cool J, Mark Hamill and Jon Batiste arrived early.
Meanwhile late-night titans Stephen Colbert and David Letterman are also in attendance wearing tan suits, likely in a comedic nod to Obama’s infamous press conference attire.
The guest set to take the stage are also star-studded, with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marsai Martin, Marc Anthony, Tems, The Roots and U2’s Bono and The Edge set to appear.
You said it, Oprah: What a GREAT Chicago day!
The Chicago icon Oprah Winfrey shares why the opening of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago is so outstanding for our city and community. And her official review of the center? "Fantastic!"
#NeverOutdoneChi pic.twitter.com/FDSv72136d— Choose Chicago (@ChooseChicago) June 18, 2026
To open the $850 million Obama Presidential Center today, Barack needed:
-Bruce Springsteen
-Stevie Wonder
-Bono
-Oprah
-Spielberg
-Tom Hanks
-And THREE former presidentsThat's a lot of star power to distract from the fact that the building looks like a giant concrete trash… pic.twitter.com/E9qMQhh2Tq
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 18, 2026
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