“Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade said Wednesday that President Trump
Donald John TrumpTillerson: Russia already looking to interfere in 2018 midterms Dems pick up deep-red legislative seat in Missouri Speier on Trump's desire for military parade: 'We have a Napoleon in the making' MORE’s idea for a military parade in Washington, D.C., “seems like a waste of money.”
During a short panel discussion on the story, Kilmeade’s fellow host Steve Doocy said the Pentagon would “love” the parade.
“There are a lot of people at the Pentagon who would love to show off all of the equipment and personnel,” Doocy said.
“I don’t know,” Kilmeade replied. “It seems like a waste of money.”
The Department of Defense confirmed Trump’s request in a statement, saying it was “in the process of determining specific details” about the proposed event.
The Pentagon is reportedly eyeing holding the parade on Veterans Day, which this year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Officials told The Washington Post that the concept is still in its early stages, but that the parade could cost millions of dollars.
When asked by a reporter Wednesday why the Pentagon would “divert time, energy, financial resources” to fulfilling Trump’s request for a military parade, Defense Secretary James Mattis
James Norman MattisOvernight Defense: Latest on spending fight - House passes stopgap with defense money while Senate nears two-year budget deal | Pentagon planning military parade for Trump | Afghan war will cost B in 2018 US expands air campaign to northern Afghanistan Mattis defends plans for new nuclear capabilities MORE said Trump’s request was an example of Trump’s “respect” for the armed forces.
“I think what my responsibility is to make certain I lay out the strategy and make the argument for the oversight of Congress to make the determination of fully funding us. As far as the parade goes again, the president’s respect, his fondness for the military, I think is reflected in him asking for these options,” Mattis said.
Trump’s request for the parade has drawn criticism from a number of government officials.
Rep. Jackie Speier
Karen (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierSpeier on Trump's desire for military parade: 'We have a Napoleon in the making' House passes landmark bill to overhaul sexual harassment policy on Capitol Hill Democrat: It’s like Putin gave Trump a ‘script’ MORE (D-Calif.) on Tuesday said Trump’s request shows he’s “a Napoleon in the making,” and former State Department spokesman John Kirby said the idea “is just beneath us as a nation.”