Donald Trump orders giant military parade for himself

  • 08/02/2018
He says he wants a bigger, better one than the French.
He says he wants a bigger, better one than the French. Photo credit: Newshub

US President Donald Trump has sent his officials scrambling after demanding a giant military parade.

Mr Trump was apparently inspired by his visit to Paris, where he witnessed the Bastille Day parade.

"We're going to have to try to top it," he told reporters afterwards.

Now, he wants his own - a bigger, better one - and has ordered top military leaders, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen Joseph F Dunford Jr to make it happen.

"The marching orders were: I want a parade like the one in France," an anonymous military official told the Washington Post.

"This is being worked at the highest levels of the military."

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has confirmed Mr Trump's intentions.

"President Trump is incredibly supportive of America's great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe," Ms Sanders was quoted in Vanity Fair.

"He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation."

The parade is believed to include Abrams tanks, fighting vehicles, missiles, and other high-tech military equipment rolling through Washington DC.

The cost of the march has yet to be calculated, but would likely run into the tens of millions. It's already drawn fire from former military commanders.

"We don't need a puffy parade to show the world we can fight. Believe me, the world knows that already," former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral Stavridis told TIME.

Newshub.