Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Wednesday that a military parade as desired by President Donald Trump would be "a fantastic waste of money."
"I say it's a fantastic waste of money to amuse the president," Durbin, the Democratic minority whip, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Wednesday.
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Trump had reiterated his longstanding desire for a military parade to highlight the might of the U.S. armed forces in a meeting with top Pentagon officials.
"The marching orders were: I want a parade like the one in France," said one anonymous military official. "This is being worked at the highest levels of the military."
"Take the money that the president would like to spend on this parade and instead, let's make sure our troops are ready for battle, and survive it and come home to their families. Let's put money into the quality of life and military families who sacrifice with our men and women in uniform," Durbin continued.
"And finally, let's make sure that we're doing something to stop the waiting lines in veteran's hospitals."
He added: "That's a good way to put money, taxpayers' money — investing in our troops, investing in our veterans instead of the amusement of the president."
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