President Donald Trump has blamed a "ridiculously high" price tag after a Veteran's Day parade was cancelled.

The US president, who had wanted to hold the event in November, said he would go to Paris instead.

On Thursday it was reported the parade would cost $92m (£72m), according to military estimates - more than three times the cost first suggested by the White House.

Mr Trump had requested a parade to honour US military veterans and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war.

But the Defence department ultimately postponed the event, with a spokesman saying the military and the White House have agreed to look at the possibility of staging the event in 2019.


Hours later Mr Trump said he cancelled the parade because of a "ridiculously high" price tag, blaming "local politicians who run Washington DC (poorly)".

He also tweeted that perhaps something could be scheduled next year when the price "comes way down".

The president said he would instead attend a military parade in Paris on 11 November and a scheduled parade Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on another date

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

Out of the $92m which was to cover the parade about $50m would cover Pentagon costs for aircraft, equipment, personnel and other support for the parade in November in Washington.

The remainder would be absorbed by other agencies and involve security costs.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has yet to approve plans. He said he had seen no estimate of the costs as he questioned the accuracy of media reports.

He said that whoever leaked the figures to the press was "probably smoking something that is legal in my state but not in most" - a reference to his home state of Washington where marijuana use is legal.

Mr Mattis added: "I'm not dignifying that number [$92m] with a reply. I would discount that and anybody who said that number, I'll almost guarantee you one thing: They probably said, 'I need to stay anonymous.'

"No kidding, because you look like an idiot. And number two, whoever wrote it needs to get better sources. I'll just leave it at that."

Donald Trump joins Bastille Day celebrations

The Pentagon cancelled a military exercise planned for August with South Korea following Mr Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The president said the drills were provocative and that cancelling them would save "a tremendous amount of money".

The parade was expected to include troops from the army, navy, air force, marine corps and coastguard as well as units in period uniforms representing the nation's history and include a number of flyovers.

A Pentagon memo in March said the parade would feature a "heavy air component" with vintage aircraft.

A veterans group said any money for the parade would be better spent on supporting military who are still fighting.

Commander Denise Rohan said: "The American Legion appreciates that our president wants to show in a dramatic fashion our nation's support for our troops.

"However, 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."

Mr Trump's desire for a military parade was fuelled after he attended France's Bastille Day celebration in Paris last year when tanks and fighter jets were displayed along the Champs-Elysees.

The president praised the event and said: "We're going to have to try and top it."