Defense Secretary Confirms Pentagon Is Already Planning For Trump’s Massive Military Parade

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed on Wednesday that the Pentagon has begun the initial planning stages for a military parade to satisfy a directive from President Donald Trump, claiming the president’s ask demonstrates his “affection and respect” for America’s troops.

“I think we’re all aware in this country of the president’s affection and respect for the military,” Mattis told White House reporters during a rare public briefing. “We’ve been putting together some options [and] we’ll send them up to the White House for a decision.”

Mattis later added Trump’s desire to show off America’s military might proves his “respect and fondness” for veterans and the men and woman currently serving overseas.

Secretary of Defense Mattis (#SecDef) on Military Parade: "We've been putting together some options. We'll send them up to the White House for a decision." https://t.co/lJLlTVe65X pic.twitter.com/zgx5iZsizq

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 7, 2018

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called the proposal “a fantastic waste of money to amuse the president,” and urged Trump to funnel the funds that would be spent on a parade into efforts to “fix military housing, hire more [Veterans Affairs] doctors… or give more flight training time.”

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-) tweeted: “A military parade costs millions. Let’s fix military housing, hire more VA doctors, fund telehealth, DOD schools, support the commissaries, daycare for families, or give more flight training time. Our highest defense priority must be the service members, not the politicians.”

A military parade costs millions. Let’s fix military housing, hire more VA doctors, fund telehealth, DOD schools, support the commissaries, daycare for families, or give more flight training time. Our highest defense priority must be the service members, not the politicians.

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) February 7, 2018

We have the mightiest military on the planet and we don’t need a parade to prove that.

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) February 7, 2018