‘What dictators do’: Republicans who once trashed Trump’s $45 million military parade idea now scramble to avoid talking about it

Former President Donald Trump’s long-desired military parade is finally becoming a reality on June 14, a $100M event critics say reeks of pure dictatorship. coinciding with both Flag Day and his 79th birthday. The parade, meant to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, has sparked renewed controversy among Republican lawmakers who previously opposed similar proposals.

According to MSNBC, the genesis of Trump’s military parade ambition can be traced back to 2017 when he attended France’s Bastille Day celebrations. Impressed by the display along the Champs-Élysées, Trump praised it as “one of the greatest parades” he had ever seen, particularly admiring its demonstration of “military might.”

When Trump first proposed a similar parade in Washington, D.C., it faced significant opposition, including from military leadership. Gen. Paul J. Selva, then vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, notably told the president during a Pentagon meeting that military parades were “what dictators do. Even Stephen Colbert joked Trump was “bringing a taste of dictatorship back home.” The initial plan was abandoned in 2018, but the idea has now resurfaced.

Republicans shift stance as parade approaches

Several prominent Republicans who previously criticized the concept have either changed their positions or become notably silent on the matter. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who once described such military parades as “a sign of weakness,” now says he is “okay” with the event.

The $45 million parade has created visible discomfort among Republican lawmakers. When questioned about their attendance plans and the parade’s cost, many Senate Republicans reportedly avoided direct answers, with some physically ducking into elevators to escape questioning.

According to recent reports, most congressional Republicans, including leadership members from both chambers, plan to skip the event. This widespread reluctance to participate marks a significant shift from typical party unity on Trump-related matters.

Some Republicans maintain their original criticisms, albeit more carefully now. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky expressed concern about the parade’s similarity to displays typically associated with the Soviet Union and North Korea, while being careful to note he wasn’t suggesting that was Trump’s intent. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana maintained his previous position, stating that “a lion doesn’t have to tell you it’s a lion,” referring to America’s status as the world’s most powerful nation.