Trump cancels parade over ‘high’ price tag
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had cancelled plans for a Veteran’s Day military parade in November, citing the “ridiculously high” price tag.
Trump on Twitter accused local politicians of price-gouging, although much of the projected $92 million price was attributed to Pentagon costs for aircraft, equipment and personnel.
The defence department announced a day earlier that there would be no parade in 2018. Trump said perhaps something could be scheduled next year when the price “comes WAY DOWN.” He did not explain how the costs would be reduced.
Trump said he would instead attend an event at Andrews Air Force Base on another day and travel to Paris for November 11 events marking the centennial of the end of fighting in World War 1.
Col Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Thursday that the military and the White House “have now agreed to explore opportunities in 2019.”
That announcement came several hours after The Associated Press reported that the parade would cost about $92 million, according to US officials citing preliminary estimates more than three times the price first suggested by the White House.
Officials said the parade plans had not yet been approved by defence secretary Jim Mattis.
Mattis himself said late Thursday that he had seen no such estimate and questioned the media reports.