President Donald Trump has canceled plans for a Veterans Day military parade, citing the “ridiculously high” price tag of $92 million.
Trump accuses Washington, D.C., politicians of price-gouging. But Pentagon estimates show that more than half the price tag would come from aircraft, equipment, personnel, and other support.
Earlier this year, the White House budget director told Congress that the cost to taxpayers could be $10 million to $30 million. Those estimates were likely based on the cost of previous military parades.
After the Defense Department announced there would be no parade in 2018, Trump tweeted that perhaps something could be scheduled next year—when the price “comes WAY DOWN.”
Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, says the military and the White House had “agreed to explore opportunities in 2019,” an announcement that came several hours after reports about the price tag.
Instead, Trump will attend an event at Andrews Air Force Base on another day. He will also travel to Paris for November 11 events marking the centennial of the end of fighting in World War I.
The parade was expected to include troops from all five armed services—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—as well as units in period uniforms representing earlier times in the nation’s history. It also was expected to involve military aircraft flyovers.
One veterans group weighed in against the parade. “The American Legion appreciates that our President wants to show in a dramatic fashion our nation’s support for our troops,” National Commander Denise Rohan says. “However, . . . we think the parade money would be better spent fully funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and giving our troops and their families the best care possible.”
(AP Photo: Inaugural parade from the Capitol to the White House in Washington, January, 2017)
