Senator Rand Paul criticized President Donald Trump’s military parade as too costly and glorifying weapons. The parade, held on June 14 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, featured tanks and troops marching through Washington. Paul expressed concerns, citing memories of Soviet and North Korean parades from his youth and contrasting them with the end-of-war celebrations in American history. He emphasized the importance of commemorating soldiers’ return without glorifying weapons, questioning the $40 million estimated cost amid a $2 trillion deficit.

In a separate critique, Paul opposed Trump’s tax and domestic policy bill, warning of its potential to increase the budget deficit by $2.4 trillion over a decade. The legislation would impact programs like Medicaid and taxes significantly. Despite his reservations, Paul remained open to negotiation, indicating a willingness to consider the bill with more spending cuts.

Trump defended the parade, arguing that celebrating victories was a common practice worldwide and asserting it was time for America to do the same. This disagreement with Trump is not the first for Paul, who has also challenged the president on other policy fronts recently. The senator’s stance reflects his concerns about fiscal responsibility and the need for careful evaluation of government spending and policy decisions.