Trump Says He Wants to Hold a Military Parade on Independence Day. Twitter Has Some Suggestions.
‘We May Do Something Like That on July Fourth in Washington Down Pennsylvania Avenue’
President Donald Trump sat down with France’s President Emmanuel Macron and in front of the cameras announced he wants to hold a military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to show off America’s might.
It is a chilling concept, even for an authoritarian like Trump.
“I was your guest at Bastille Day, and it was one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen,†Trump told Macron on Monday at the UN. “It was two hours on the button, and it was military might and, I think, a tremendous thing for France and the spirit of France.â€
Trump compliments Bastille Day parade in Paris, says he’d consider parade “to show our military strength” on July 4 https://t.co/nL6BlrZGia
— CNN (@CNN) September 18, 2017
“To a large extent because of what I witnessed, we may do something like that on July Fourth in Washington down Pennsylvania Avenue,†Trump added. Macron laughed.
This is not the first time Trump has said he wanted to hold a military parade – he wanted his inauguration to include one as well. He also told The Washington Post he wanted to have several military parades, to display America’s military might.
“Being a great president has to do with a lot of things, but one of them is being a great cheerleader for the country,†Trump said in January. “And we’re going to show the people as we build up our military, we’re going to display our military.â€
This would not be the first military parade the U.S. has held, but there has not been one in D.C. in decades – not since 1991.
At the time it was roundly condemned.
“The elaborate celebration, which cost $12 million, drew scattered protests from critics, who said that it glorified militarism,” the LA Times reported. “And the turnout for the parade–estimated at 200,000 by U.S. Park Police–was far below predictions of 1 million or more spectators.”
Here’s how people on Twitter responded Monday:
Artist’s rendering of Trump’s military parade pic.twitter.com/FacFcIU6Cb
— Dan Froomkin (@froomkin) September 18, 2017
Trump just said he wants to have a military parade down Pennsylvania Ave. on July 4.
There’s precedent for that… 👇 pic.twitter.com/pctEqDn0WK
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) September 18, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump just said he is thinking of having a big military parade on Pennsylvania Ave for the Fourth of July.
Familiar? Hell no!! pic.twitter.com/AqzENd78WA
— ImpeachTrump (@dumptrump33) September 18, 2017
The draft dodger wants a military parade https://t.co/uIIIOBAHnY
— Cherie Joy (@CherieSkiba) September 18, 2017
Filed under: Authoritarianism Watch. https://t.co/plOiDRsnc4
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) September 18, 2017
He really, really wants that military parade. https://t.co/08kNvNN7T1
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) September 18, 2017
If there was any doubt that Trump is a dictator wannabe he wants a Military Parade down Pennsylvania Ave, NO @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats
— KeithLeBlanc (@KeithLeBlanc63) September 18, 2017
I’m so damn sick and tired of @realDonaldTrump wanting a massive military parade. This is NOT Russia or North Korea! Just a sick obsession https://t.co/qNHCXjeH0G
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) September 18, 2017
This is a bit frightening. Town/city parades and fireworks are great, but a military parade is reminiscent of Nazis/dictators.
— Susie Smith ☮ï¸ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ (@just_susie3) September 18, 2017
I want to do what Hitler did what North Korea does what China does I want to do what dictators do, I want my military parade tanks and all. https://t.co/2HBhp1xKpQ
— Eleanor Pray (@fupumpkinhead) September 18, 2017
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