Pentagon postpones military parade in Washington until next year

World
Europe

A military parade requested by US President Donald Trump that was planned for November in Washington has been postponed until next year, the Defense Department said.

"The Department of Defense and White House have been planning a parade to honor America's military veterans and commemorate the centennial of World War I," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said in a statement.

"We originally targeted Nov. 10, 2018, for this event but have now agreed to explore opportunities in 2019," he added.

When the White House in February announced the commander-in-chief's desire to hold the parade in Washington, the budget director said it would cost between 10 million and 30 million US dollars.

But a US official told AFP earlier Thursday the planning estimate had now gone as high as 92 million US dollars, though no final figure has been reached.

The request for the event came after Trump's visit to France in July 2017, where he was hosted with great fanfare by French President Emmanuel Macron.

US President Donald Trump watches as members of the 4th Foreign Regiment march in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. /VCG Photo

Sitting on the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade, the American president had marveled at the Republican Guard on horseback and jets flying overhead.

He had initially hinted at plans to transform America's Independence Day celebrations – usually associated with fireworks and barbecues – on July 4 into a vast military parade.

"To a large extent, because of what I witnessed we may do something like that on July Fourth in Washington down Pennsylvania Avenue," he said in September 2017.

Destitute veterans

Even before becoming president, aides reported that Trump had considered a military parade to mark his inauguration – although that idea was eventually scrapped.

WWII veteran Allen Q. Jones (R) and US President Donald Trump attend the 119th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, the US, July 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

Trump has also embraced military backdrop for several speeches and presidential visits.

While many Americans welcome the idea, some argue that the money could be better spent improving the lives of destitute veterans.

"Until such time as we can celebrate victory in the War on terrorism and bring our military home, we think the parade money would be better spent fully funding the Department of Veteran Affairs and giving our troops and their families the best care possible," said the American Legion's national commander Denise Rohan.

The United States normally holds military parades to mark the end of a conflict, such as in 1991 when President George HW Bush held a National Victory Parade in Washington to celebrate the end of the first Gulf War.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters