Defense One's Kevin Baron explains how veterans and active duty military oppose Trump's planned military parade

Baron: “You have a lot of veterans and current active duty folks saying, 'Man, this stinks to have to make us do this, this isn't for us, this is for you'”

From the February 7 edition of MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle:

Video file

KATY TUR (GUEST HOST): Fourth of July would be interesting. This isn't the first time that we would have a large scale military parade like this in the U.S., Kevin. The last one was in 1991, it cost $12 million. With inflation, it would cost $22 million today. Where does that money come from? Kevin? 

KEVIN BARON (DEFENSE ONE EXECUTIVE EDITOR): Gee, good question. I think it depends maybe on the region or the district. Usually these kind of parades are done on bases. It's been so rare. I mean, there is a military district in Washington, D.C. that might pay for it. I'll tell you, the last time I went to a major one of these was in Kuwait for the anniversary of the Gulf War and Kuwait's 50th year of independence. The Americans, the Saudis, every country that participated in the Gulf War went to a large -- what, basically like the beltway outside of Kuwait City to put this on. 

These are not small affairs. Military units have to drill for them, they have to train for them, and it takes them out of doing their jobs, their real drill. So Twitter has just blown up in the military community. You have a lot of veterans and current active duty folks saying, “Man, this stinks to have to make us do this, this isn't for us, this is for you.” But some others say, “Hey, I love parades, it's something we do, we'll do it if we have to. But it's not exactly what's our number one priority right now.” 

Previously:

Fox reporter: Trump's military parade “would be an absolute blast”

Watch a transgender former Navy SEAL explain the disruption Trump's military ban on trans service members will have on the military