On Thursday night President Donald Trump called a U.S. Senator a “loser” for criticizing his expensive plans for a military parade in Washington. But by Friday morning he had changed his mind about the parade and announced he was cancelling it altogether and would attend a parade in Paris on November 11th instead.
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The feud began when Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut posted a tweet critical of the president. He said Trump should show “real patriotism” by supporting and improving health benefits for veterans instead of spending money on a costly parade.
“Real patriotism should mean $92 million to honor military service & benefit veterans, not glorify politicians. Improve vets health care, more jobs & skills, end vet homelessness & suicides—still killing at least 20 heroes every day.”
Real patriotism should mean $92 million to honor military service & benefit veterans, not glorify politicians. Improve vets health care, more jobs & skills, end vet homelessness & suicides—still killing at least 20 heroes every day. https://t.co/G7gG1fo4AI
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) August 16, 2018
Trump, of course, does not take kindly to any form of criticism no matter how wrong he is. So in response to “Senator” Blumenthal he tweeted:
“How can “Senator” Richard Blumenthal, who went around for twenty years as a Connecticut politician bragging that he was a great Marine war hero in Vietnam (then got caught and sobbingly admitted he was neither a Marine nor ever in Vietnam), pass judgement on anyone? Loser!”
How can “Senator” Richard Blumenthal, who went around for twenty years as a Connecticut politician bragging that he was a great Marine war hero in Vietnam (then got caught and sobbingly admitted he was neither a Marine nor ever in Vietnam), pass judgement on anyone? Loser!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
But after getting (hopefully) a good night’s sleep the president apparently changed his mind about the parade, and of course had to blame others for his decision.
“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…”
….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!”
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
The Pentagon on Thursday said it estimated that it would need $50 million to do the parade, and the Department of Homeland Security said it would also need $42 million, according to a CNBC report.
They said the high amount of money was needed to get military aircraft and equipment to the parade, to provide adequate security, and to pay for the troops to be in attendance at the parade.
Trump’s reference to “ local politicians who run Washington, D.C.” wanting a “windfall” was a total lie as they were not the ones who set the cost of the parade. It was nothing more than another way for the president to take a cheap shot at African American politicians.
The cancellation is likely a disappointment for the president. After he attended a parade in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron celebrating Bastille Day, Trump said he wanted to have his own parade in Washington on Veterans’ Day.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
