AFP, Washington :
US President Donald Trump has asked for a large-scale military parade, the White House said Tuesday, an unconventional move that would showcase American muscle and underscore his role as commander-in-chief.
Trump-who has toyed with the idea of a parade in Washington since before being sworn in-has made the request to top officers, who are looking for a date.
“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
“He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”
The Pentagon confirmed it was “in the process of determining specific details.”
Trump’s new request, first reported by The Washington Post, immediately fueled comparisons to similar events in more autocratic countries.
“What an absurd waste of money! Trump acts more like dictator than president. Americans deserve better,” said Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern.
The idea had a long gestation period. When Trump visited Paris last July for Bastille Day, he made no secret of his awe for the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.
Sitting on the Champs-Elysees, the American president marveled at the Republican Guard on horseback and jets flying overhead, and greeted President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in an open-topped camouflaged military jeep.
Months after that meeting, Trump publicly remarked: “So we’re actually thinking about Fourth of July, Pennsylvania Avenue, having a really great parade to show our military strength.”
But even before becoming president, aides reported that Trump had considered a military parade to mark his inauguration. The idea was eventually scrapped.
Trump has already prompted fears about his respect for democratic freedoms once this week by suggesting Democrats were “un-American” and “treasonous” for not applauding his State of the Union address.
The White House claimed Trump was joking.
“The president was clearly joking with his comments, but what isn’t a joke is that Democrats refuse to celebrate the accomplishments of last year that have helped all Americans,” Sanders said.
But the quip did not go down well with lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats.
“I have seen the president’s most ardent defenders use the now-weary argument that the president’s comments were meant as a joke, just sarcasm, only tongue in cheek,” said Republican Senator Jeff Flake.
“But treason is not a punchline, Mr President.”
Military veteran and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth also fired back at Trump, while lampooning his deferments from medical military service during the Vietnam War.
“We don’t live in a dictatorship or a monarchy,” she said.
“I swore an oath-in the military and in the Senate-to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, not to mindlessly cater to the whims of Cadet Bone Spurs and clap when he demands I clap.”
Meanwhile, US congressional leaders said Tuesday they were close to clinching an elusive budget deal that would keep government open-despite President Donald Trump calling for a shutdown if he does not get his way on immigration.
The Senate’s top Republican and Democrat signaled a deal was imminent that would raise both defense and non-defense spending maximum levels for the next two years, beyond the limits imposed by a 2011 law, clearing the way for lawmakers to swiftly pass a temporary spending bill before the government runs out of money at midnight Thursday.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said there was “real progress” on a budget deal, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said “we’re on our way to getting an agreement, and getting it very soon.”
The bipartisan breakthrough came as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives debated and then passed a controversial six-week stopgap spending measure.
Schumer and Democrats threatened to block the bill in the Senate because it funds the military, but not domestic programs, through the remainder of the fiscal year.
“We support an increase in funding for our military and our middle class,” Schumer insisted. “We don’t want to do just one and leave the other behind.”
US President Donald Trump has asked for a large-scale military parade, the White House said Tuesday, an unconventional move that would showcase American muscle and underscore his role as commander-in-chief.
Trump-who has toyed with the idea of a parade in Washington since before being sworn in-has made the request to top officers, who are looking for a date.
“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
“He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”
The Pentagon confirmed it was “in the process of determining specific details.”
Trump’s new request, first reported by The Washington Post, immediately fueled comparisons to similar events in more autocratic countries.
“What an absurd waste of money! Trump acts more like dictator than president. Americans deserve better,” said Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern.
The idea had a long gestation period. When Trump visited Paris last July for Bastille Day, he made no secret of his awe for the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.
Sitting on the Champs-Elysees, the American president marveled at the Republican Guard on horseback and jets flying overhead, and greeted President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in an open-topped camouflaged military jeep.
Months after that meeting, Trump publicly remarked: “So we’re actually thinking about Fourth of July, Pennsylvania Avenue, having a really great parade to show our military strength.”
But even before becoming president, aides reported that Trump had considered a military parade to mark his inauguration. The idea was eventually scrapped.
Trump has already prompted fears about his respect for democratic freedoms once this week by suggesting Democrats were “un-American” and “treasonous” for not applauding his State of the Union address.
The White House claimed Trump was joking.
“The president was clearly joking with his comments, but what isn’t a joke is that Democrats refuse to celebrate the accomplishments of last year that have helped all Americans,” Sanders said.
But the quip did not go down well with lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats.
“I have seen the president’s most ardent defenders use the now-weary argument that the president’s comments were meant as a joke, just sarcasm, only tongue in cheek,” said Republican Senator Jeff Flake.
“But treason is not a punchline, Mr President.”
Military veteran and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth also fired back at Trump, while lampooning his deferments from medical military service during the Vietnam War.
“We don’t live in a dictatorship or a monarchy,” she said.
“I swore an oath-in the military and in the Senate-to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, not to mindlessly cater to the whims of Cadet Bone Spurs and clap when he demands I clap.”
Meanwhile, US congressional leaders said Tuesday they were close to clinching an elusive budget deal that would keep government open-despite President Donald Trump calling for a shutdown if he does not get his way on immigration.
The Senate’s top Republican and Democrat signaled a deal was imminent that would raise both defense and non-defense spending maximum levels for the next two years, beyond the limits imposed by a 2011 law, clearing the way for lawmakers to swiftly pass a temporary spending bill before the government runs out of money at midnight Thursday.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said there was “real progress” on a budget deal, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said “we’re on our way to getting an agreement, and getting it very soon.”
The bipartisan breakthrough came as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives debated and then passed a controversial six-week stopgap spending measure.
Schumer and Democrats threatened to block the bill in the Senate because it funds the military, but not domestic programs, through the remainder of the fiscal year.
“We support an increase in funding for our military and our middle class,” Schumer insisted. “We don’t want to do just one and leave the other behind.”
