Washington mayor hits back at Trump’s reprimand after reports emerged that planned parade could have cost $92m

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The military parade Donald Trump ordered up for Veterans Day will not happen in 2018, the US defense department said, after reports emerged that the event could cost around $92m – more than three times the price first suggested by the White House.

Trump blamed “local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly)“ for the delay in tweets on Friday, saying the cost was “ridiculously high” and they “know a windfall when they see it”.

He said he would instead attend a parade at Andrews air force base and go to Paris for events on 11 November to commemorate Armistice Day.

The mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, responded to Trump’s allegations in a tweet. The city’s costs for hosting the event are understood to be a fraction of the military costs.

“Yup, I’m Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, the local politician who finally got thru to the reality star in the White House with the realities ($21.6m) of parades/events/demonstrations in Trump America (sad),” she wrote.

MurielBowser (@MurielBowser) Yup, I’m Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, the local politician who finally got thru to the reality star in the White House with the realities ($21.6M) of parades/events/demonstrations in Trump America (sad). https://t.co/vqC3d8FLqx

ColRob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Thursday that the military and the White House had “now agreed to explore opportunities in 2019”.

The parade’s cost has become a politically charged issue, particularly after the Pentagon canceled a major military exercise planned for August with South Korea, in the wake of Trump’s summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.

Trump said the drills were provocative and that dumping them would save the US “a tremendous amount of money”. The Pentagon later said the Korea drills would have cost $14m.

Trump’s desire for a military parade reveals him as a would-be despot | Jonathan Freedland Read more

US officials had told the Associated Press earlier on Thursday that the proposed new parade would cost about $92m, citing preliminary estimates.

According to the officials, roughly $50mwould cover Pentagon costs for aircraft, equipment, personnel and other support for the November parade in Washington. The remainder would be borne by other agencies and largely involve security costs. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss early planning estimates that have not yet been finalized or released publicly.

Officials said the plans had not yet been approved by the defense secretary, Jim Mattis.

The parade was expected to include troops from all five armed services the army, navy, air force, marine corps and coast guard as well as units in period uniforms representing earlier times in the nation’s history. It was expected to involve a number of military aircraft flyovers.

Earlier this year, the White House budget director told Congress that the cost to taxpayers could be $10m to $30m.

One veterans group weighed in on Thursday against the parade. “The American Legion appreciates that our president wants to show in a dramatic fashion our nation’s support for our troops,” said national commander Denise Rohan.

“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.”

Trump decided he wanted a military parade in Washington after he attended France’s Bastille Day celebration in the center of Paris last year. As the invited guest of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, Trump watched enthusiastically from a reviewing stand as the French military showcased its tanks and fighter jets, including many US-made planes, along the famed Champs-Elysées.

Several months later Trump praised the French parade, saying: “We’re going to have to try and top it.”