- The Defense Department said President Donald Trump's Veterans Day military parade has been pushed back from 2018 to at least 2019.
- The announcement came several hours after reports indicated the parade would cost about $92 million, according to US officials citing preliminary estimates.
- That price point would be more than three times initial estimates.
- 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.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department said Thursday that the Veterans Day military parade ordered up by President Donald Trump won't happen in 2018.
Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said the military and the White House "have now agreed to explore opportunities in 2019."
The 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.
According to the officials, roughly $50 million would 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 Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. 
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, September 3, 2017. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
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 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 $14 million.
Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said earlier Thursday that Defense Department planning for the parade "continues and final details are still being developed. Any cost estimates are pre-decisional."
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 also was expected to involve a number of military aircraft flyovers.
A Pentagon planning memo released in March said the parade would feature a "heavy air component," likely including older, vintage aircraft. It also said there would be "wheeled vehicles only, no tanks — consideration must be given to minimize damage to local infrastructure." Big, heavy tanks could tear up streets in the District of Columbia.
The memo from Mattis' office provided initial planning guidance to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His staff is planning the parade along a route from the White House to the Capitol and would integrate it with the city's annual veterans' parade. US Northern Command, which oversees US troops in North America, is responsible for the actual execution of the parade.
Earlier this year, the White House budget director told Congress that the cost to taxpayers could be $10 million to $30 million. Those estimates were likely based on the cost of previous military parades, such as the one in the nation's capital in 1991 celebrating the end of the first Gulf War, and factored in some additional increase for inflation.
One veterans group weighed in 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," National Commander Denise Rohan said. "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 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-Elysees.
Several months later Trump praised the French parade, saying, "We're going to have to try and top it."
Poster Comment:
#1: Pinguinite To: Willie Green (#0)
Pinguinite posted on 2018-08-17 11:40:58 Reply Private Reply
#2: Jameson To: Willie Green (#0)
There will be NO parade.
Jameson posted on 2018-08-17 11:49:52 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
There's your reason. Greedy Washington, D.C. city council officials.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-17 12:14:26 Reply Private Reply
#4: Hank Rearden To: Pinguinite (#1)
And that's why Trump iced it.
Hank Rearden posted on 2018-08-17 12:15:18 Reply Private Reply
#5: Liberator To: Pinguinite (#1)
Yeah, probably bloat to a degree, but knowing Trump, not by much.
Gotta consider all the costs that would go into this production (security, time, transportation, staging, theatrics)...
But MOST of all, we've got to presume at least half the parade budget is allocated for the Earl Scheib/Maaco PINK paint job. Sure, some might confuse THIS as merely an excuse to queer-up the tanks, jeeps, military hardware in pink (especially ROCKETS).
;-P
However we all know this PINK EVERYTHING TREND is only about "raising awareness for "Breast Cancer".
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 12:33:20 Reply Private Reply
#6: Liberator To: Willie Green (#0)
But...but...Willie...
Wouldn't the risk of tanks damaging the DC "infrastructure" be off-set by your Dem-Party Commissars using the parade as their first real practice-run rehearsal for their future Martial Law and occupation of cities and towns? (Not that Chicago/Baltimore/DC aren't already "Occupied" by their Dem Mayor and respective gangsta shooting galleries and morgue overflow.)
And finally, thanks for your convenient reminder that a US military parade is NO DIFFERENT THAN NORTH KOREA'S. Which ALSO remind me to remind YOU not to forget your meds.
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 12:45:21 Reply Private Reply
#7: Liberator To: Jameson (#2)
Why not? Were your communitah leaders holding out for several pink-camo Floats, Frisco-Style for your co-personnel and random children?
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 12:49:04 Reply Private Reply
#8: Liberator To: misterwhite, pinguinite, Hank Rearden (#3)
A-HA!!
Well at least President Trump checkmated the Commie-Dems and MSM again.
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 12:51:46 Reply Private Reply
#9: Pinguinite To: Liberator (#5)
I did.... and came up with a figure that was somewhat less than $92 million!
I mean, how many personnel from each branch would march in the parade? All of them?
Pinguinite posted on 2018-08-17 12:56:35 Reply Private Reply
#10: Pinguinite To: misterwhite (#3)
Pinguinite posted on 2018-08-17 12:59:29 Reply Private Reply
#11: Liberator To: Pinguinite (#9)
You forgot to factor is "gratuities, tips, 'keeping-the-lights-on' and overhead" for DC's authoritahs.
;-)
I mean, how many personnel from each branch would march in the parade? All of them?
I reckon every branch possible.
Since we have scant details about the extent of the proposed parade and to what degree it'd be celebrated, it's impossible to gauge.
Frankly, $92 mil is a relative drop in the bucket compared t all the typical waste. The question is whether it's good for national and service morale.
After thinking about it -- considering the demoralization-by-design by the 0bama Regime -- I'd say it's a reasonably important gesture of appreciation. It's not going to be like a Soviet or NK parade with missiles clogging miles of parade route.
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 13:28:33 Reply Private Reply
#12: Liberator To: Pinguinite, misterwhite (#10)
Oh REALLY??
Hmmm...
Liberator posted on 2018-08-17 13:29:09 Reply Private Reply
#13: misterwhite To: Pinguinite (#10)
No one knows where the $92 million figure came from. The administration figured $10-30 million using past parades as a guide plus inflation.
Apparently the Washington D.C. city council tacked on a whole bunch of money for themselves to take advantage of the opportunity and Trump decided not to play their game.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-17 14:05:30 Reply Private Reply
#14: Jameson To: Willie Green (#0)
Per USA Today
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday via Twitter that the District's cost estimate was only $21.6 million, closer to the administration's $12 million projection from February. On Thursday, Pentagon officials told CNN the actual costs would be $92 million, or $80 million more than the original estimate.
It was the DOD who padded the estimate...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/17/trump-blames-d-c- government-parade-delay-despite-high-cost/1017161002/
Jameson posted on 2018-08-17 14:12:27 Reply Private Reply
#15: Hondo68 To: Willie Green, Donnell and Barrys Parade (#0)
It's the fashion accessories that run up the costs.
army.mil
Hondo68 posted on 2018-08-17 14:38:56 Reply Private Reply
#16: misterwhite To: Jameson (#14)
Or CNN.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-18 09:54:12 Reply Private Reply
#17: Jameson To: misterwhite (#16)
Let's just for a moment be very serious and honest, ok?
If you believe that somehow CNN was able to infiltrate the Pentagon, and cause the military leaders of our country to pad the estimate for dip-shit's North Korean-style goose-stepping parade....you have either lost your mind, or are actually a russian bot trolling fake-news.
CNN had nothing to do with it, the pentagon is the source of the estimate. (of course the DOD has zero ability to be responsible for the stewardship of tax-payer dollars) but they are certainly NOT part of some fantasy deep- state conspiracy to make the orange russian look stupid.
He does a fine job of that on a nearly hourly basis.
Jameson posted on 2018-08-19 12:26:39 Reply Private Reply
#18: misterwhite To: Jameson (#17)
Nope. I'm saying it's possible the military said $9.2 million and CNN reported $92 million.
CNN will correct their "mistake" months from now. If they're caught.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-19 13:21:47 Reply Private Reply
#19: Jameson To: misterwhite (#18)
misterwhite, you cannot be serious.
This has nothing to do with CNN reporting.
This has everything to do with the Pentagon telling dip-shit Donnie that his penis-enhancement party is a stupid and pointless exercise in narcissism.
Unless you're just tilting, you are a russian bot, you're stupidly ineffective, but still a trolling bot.
Jameson posted on 2018-08-19 14:52:09 Reply Private Reply
#20: misterwhite To: Jameson (#19)
... CNN that it would cost $9.2 million and CNN reported $92 million because CNN LIES.
No? Can you find someone, anyone, at the Pentagon who will support your $92 million lie?
Didn't think so.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-19 15:44:22 Reply Private Reply
#21: Hondo68 To: misterwhite (#20)
I saw another article that said it would cost ~$100M, somebody's lying.
slate.com/news-and-politi...wards-usd100-million.html
Hondo68 posted on 2018-08-19 16:04:56 Reply Private Reply
#22: misterwhite To: hondo68 (#21)
Uh-huh. "... according to a U.S. defense official with firsthand knowledge of the assessment".
With no one putting their name to the estimate, I conclude the press is lying. They hate the idea of a military parade because they hate Trump. So they make up a huge number.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-19 19:32:14 Reply Private Reply
#23: Jameson To: misterwhite (#20)
Not MY lie,
Reported from AP, source was someone at the Pentagon.
Not CNN
but, there's not going to be a parade, so it's a win!
you can return to your fantasy world of conspiracies now.
Jameson posted on 2018-08-20 07:45:35 Reply Private Reply
#24: misterwhite To: Jameson (#23)
You repeated the lie. That makes it your lie. Don't hide behind mama's skirts.
misterwhite posted on 2018-08-20 08:52:49 Reply Private Reply