A former GOP strategist mocked President Donald Trump over the military parade being held on his birthday.
Trump told reporters that any protesters at his military parade will be met with “very big force” when asked about potential counter-demonstrations to the event. The military parade is intended to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Saturday, which also happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday.
Former GOP strategist Sarah Longwell jabbed the president over his comments on the parade, suggesting that Trump cannot handle any criticism about the massive event.
“YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE MEAN TO TRUMP DURING HIS OVERCOMPENSATION MILITARY PARADE. Some tough guy,” Longwell wrote on social media platform X.
A few commenters on the post also criticized Trump over the parade.
“Screw him do people forget this is America and not Russia? Who the hell does he and maga morons think he is,” one user wrote.
Another user wrote: “This takes ‘emperor’s new clothes’, to an entirely new level. Don’t these GOP minions feel like first class jackasses?”.
The parade, slated to take place in the nation’s capital this weekend, will feature M1 Abrams battle tanks rolling through the streets of Washington, D.C. as well as thousands of soldiers and various military vehicles.
The event is estimated to cost between $25 to $45 million—a price tag that has shocked even some of Trump’s supporters.
GOP Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday that they would not have held a military parade in D.C. like what Trump is doing if they were president.
“Never been a big fan of goose-stepping soldiers in big tanks and missiles rolling down the street. So if you asked me, I wouldn’t have done it,” Paul said, according to Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin.
“I wouldn’t spend the money if it were me. The United States of America is the most powerful country in all of human history. We’re a lion, and a lion doesn’t have to tell you it’s a lion. Everybody else in the jungle knows, and we’re a lion. I would save the money, but if the president wants to have a parade, he’s the President, and I’m not,” Kennedy said, according to Griffin.
The military parade has been designated a National Special Security Event — similar to a presidential inauguration or state funeral. That status is reserved for events that draw large crowds and potential mass protests. It calls for an enhanced degree of high-level coordination among D.C. officials, the FBI, Capitol Police and Washington’s National Guard contingent — with the Secret Service taking the lead.
The Army birthday celebration had already been planned for months. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to transform the event — which coincides with his 79th birthday — into a massive military parade complete with 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets.
Multiple counter-protests of varying sizes are planned for Saturday, with the largest being a mass march to the White House. Officials say they are also on alert for signs that the immigration-related clashes between law enforcement and protesters currently roiling Los Angeles would spread.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stories by Lauren Sforza
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