WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) publicly criticized the military parade championed by former President Donald Trump, calling it an unnecessary expense that excessively “glorified” weapons rather than celebrating American service members.
The June 14 parade, which featured tanks and thousands of troops marching through Washington, D.C., was held in honor of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary—coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday. But Paul, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, expressed strong disapproval, saying, “I never liked the idea of the parade.”
Reflecting on his childhood in the 1970s and 80s, Paul contrasted American military commemorations with the grandiose displays of authoritarian regimes. “The only parades I can remember are Soviet parades, for the most part, or North Korean parades,” he said. Instead, he pointed to iconic moments like the famous V-J Day kiss in Times Square, which symbolized the joyous return of troops after World War II.
“We were rejoicing the end of war… but we never glorified weapons so much,” Paul added. While acknowledging that Trump likely meant well, he maintained, “I’m just not a big fan.”
Cost Concerns Amid Rising National Debt
Paul also took issue with the parade’s price tag, noting that the U.S. is already “$2 trillion in the hole.” An Army estimate placed the event’s cost at $40 million, a figure Paul deemed irresponsible given the nation’s fiscal challenges.
Trump, however, defended the parade, arguing that “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did, too.”
Broader GOP Tensions Over Spending
This isn’t the first time Paul has broken with Trump on fiscal matters. The Kentucky senator has also opposed Trump’s sweeping tax and domestic policy bill, warning it would exacerbate the national deficit. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the legislation could add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade while impacting Medicaid, food assistance programs, and tax policy.
Despite his criticisms, Paul left room for negotiation, telling Meet the Press host Kristen Welker that he spoke with Trump after the parade and isn’t an “absolute no” on the bill. “I don’t have as much trouble with the tax cuts. I think there should be more spending cuts. But if they want my vote, they’ll have to negotiate,” he said.
Paul’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions within the GOP over government spending and military symbolism, as some Republicans push back against what they see as excessive displays of power amid fiscal strain.
