Trump: ‘The generals would love’ to have a military parade

President Trump said Saturday that the U.S. generals “would love” to have a military parade.

Trump made the comment during an interview with Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro, his 21st interview with Fox News or Fox Business Network during his presidency.

“The generals would love to do it, I tell you, and so would I,” he said. “I think it’s great for the country being a cheerleader and the spirit. It’s very important.”

It was reported earlier this year that Trump had instructed the Pentagon to plan a military parade. After military officials confirmed that the event was in its early planning stages, it was quickly met with backlash from lawmakers.

A Military Times poll found that 89 percent of its readers, who are primarily service members and their families, opposed the parade, saying it would be a “waste of money.”

The Pentagon and other officials have reportedly raised concerns about logistics of the event, including how it would be paid for, and whether Washington, D.C., streets would be able to withstand the weight of military tanks, should they be included in the parade. White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told lawmakers that the parade could cost up to $30 million.

“We’ll see if we can do it at a reasonable cost,” Trump said Saturday. “If we can’t, we won’t do it.”

Trump has expressed his desire for a military parade several times during his presidency, including after he viewed the Bastille Day demonstration in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who he called “a good guy” in his Saturday comments.

{mosads}The Bastille Day event appears to have had a significant influence on Trump’s plans for the parade, which will reportedly run from the White House to the Capitol via Pennsylvania Avenue.

Opponents of the parade, both Democratic and Republican, have argued that a military demonstration of this level could send the wrong message and make the U.S. appear “totalitarian.” North Korea and Russia are known for their large-scale military demonstrations.

Trump said Saturday that “a lot of” the parade would be flyovers, and that it would highlight the U.S. Military, Naval, Coast Guard and Air Force academies.

“It would be a great representative parade,” the president said. “It would be great for the spirit of the country. We have a great country. And we should be celebrating our country.”

Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to plan the parade for Veterans Day.