Naval Academy cancels speech by podcaster amid cultural turmoil

Ryan Holiday planned to reference the academy’s book bans.

The Navy said it canceled a speaking engagement at its academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with popular podcaster and author Ryan Holiday because it wanted to steer clear of what it saw as political content aimed at young naval officers.

Holiday, who speaks frequently about the value of stoicism and has written several books, including "The Obstacle is the Way," said he had planned to speak to the midshipmen about the "pursuit of wisdom."

Holiday said he shared his briefing slides in advance with the Navy, which included a reference to the New York Times' story about the U.S. Naval Academy's recent decision to pull some 381 books from its library. The Navy asked him to omit the reference, and Holiday said he refused.

"The idea that there are topics that are off limits or that they can't handle is absurd on its face," Holiday told ABC News.

When asked why Holiday's speech was canceled, the Navy said it opted to make a "schedule change that aligns with its mission of preparing midshipmen for careers of service to our country."

"The Naval Academy is an apolitical institution," it added. "It is focused on developing midshipmen morally, mentally and physically in order to cultivate honorable leaders, create a culture of excellence and prepare future officers for military service."

Holiday said the Navy hadn't given him guidance in advance of the speech and that he didn't see his presentation as overtly political because he wasn't telling the midshipmen how to vote. He said it shouldn't have been a surprise to the Navy that he'd want to discuss current events.

"I assumed we had the basic ... standards of academic independence," Holiday said.

The Navy pulled the books after President Donald Trump ordered the military to stop "promoting, advancing, or otherwise inculcating the following un-American, divisive, discriminatory, radical, extremist, and irrational theories."

Included in the list of books removed from the academy library is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou and "How to be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi.

A separate visit to the academy by filmmaker Ken Burns also was canceled recently, although the cancelation does not appear to be tied to a dispute over content. A spokesperson for Burns said the award-winning documentarian had planned to meet privately with faculty and staff later this month and now hopes to visit the school in October instead.