Citing 'Ridiculously High' Costs, Trump Cancels Military Parade
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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump says he is canceling his plans for a military parade through the streets of Washington because the price was "ridiculously high."
On Twitter, Trump accused local politicians of price gouging, although the projected $92 million cost was largely attributed to Pentagon costs for aircraft, equipment and personnel.
Trump tweeted "maybe we will do something next year when the cost comes WAY DOWN."
The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it. When asked to give us a price for holding a great celebratory military parade, they wanted a number so ridiculously high that I cancelled it. Never let someone hold you up! I will instead...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
....attend the big parade already scheduled at Andrews Air Force Base on a different date, & go to the Paris parade, celebrating the end of the War, on November 11th. Maybe we will do something next year in D.C. when the cost comes WAY DOWN. Now we can buy some more jet fighters!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
The Defense Department had already said the parade wouldn't happen this year.
Trump had called for the patriotic show of force last year after watching France's Bastille Day celebration in the center of Paris at the invitation of the French president. But the project has been beset with logistical hurdles, such as the damage heavy tanks would do to city streets and an exorbitant price tag.
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