Trump wants huge military parade in Washington

DONALD Trump has asked the Pentagon to plan a grand parade of armed forces in Washington to celebrate US military strength, officials said.

The Washington Post, which was first to report the plan, said the President wants an elaborate parade this year with soldiers marching and tanks rolling, but no date has been selected.

White House Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr Trump wants the Pentagon to “explore a celebration” that will allow Americans to show appreciation for the military.

Pentagon spokesman Charlie Summers said officials are “looking at options”.

The US has not traditionally embraced showy displays of raw military power, such as North Korea’s parading of ballistic missiles as a claim of international prestige and influence.

US military members commonly participate in parades on July 4 and other holidays to mark appreciation and remembrance of military veterans, but these typically do not include major displays of military hardware.

Although defence secretary Jim Mattis has not commented on the idea of a Washington military parade, the idea is not an obvious fit with his emphasis on focusing strictly, if not exclusively, on military activities that either improve the lethality of the armed forces or enhance their preparation for combat, or both.