Donald Trump may want to hold a giant military parade on July 4, but it’s starting to look like he won’t be able to have it in the nation’s capital.
Wednesday morning, the Council of the District of Columbia sent Trump a very loud and clear message on his favorite social media platform, Twitter:
The DC government will open on time today.
DC Public Schools will open on time today.
Sadly, the Giant Tank Parade is cancelled. Permanently. pic.twitter.com/mQmElqs3Tt— Council of DC (@councilofdc) February 7, 2018
At the daily press briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had this to say about the military parade Trump has ordered the Pentagon to start planning:
“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe. He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”
Of course, Trump failed to discuss the matter with any of the elected officials in D.C. and that led a spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser to comment:
“Just like the wall, he will have to pay for it.”
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) was even clearer where she stands on the issue of a parade:
A military parade in DC would shut down the nation’s capital and waste taxpayer dollars just to feed Trump's ego. The way to show our service members and veterans that we appreciate their service is to use the parade money to fund their health care and other services they need.
— Eleanor H. Norton (@EleanorNorton) February 7, 2018
As for veterans, they don’t exactly sound wild about the parade idea, either. Retired Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby noted:
“First of all, the United States doesn’t need a parade down Pennsylvania or any other avenue to show our military strength. We do that every day in virtually every clime all over the world.”
In other words, Donnie, to borrow a line from the D.C. Council: Tanks, but no tanks.