Trump made the Pentagon spend $1.2 million on his July 4 celebration of himself

American taxpayers had to put up $1.2 million for Trump’s “salute” to himself on Independence Day, the Department of Defense revealed on Tuesday.

“The Department of Defense supported the ‘Salute to America’ with demonstrations by aircraft, static displays of equipment and ceremonial unit participation,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

The department said the money for hauling tanks to be displayed at the Lincoln Memorial, along with the use of military personnel and assets like airplanes for a flyover, was siphoned from “the military services’ training budgets that facilitate flying hours, which are imperative to military readiness.”

There were also additional expenses incurred by the Interior Department and other agencies, but the total expenditure has not yet been revealed.

Trump demanded the display be added to the traditional Fourth of July festivities, increasing the costs for the event and inserting himself and his political agenda into the proceedings.

“I think we can say we’ve made the decision to do it again next year, and maybe we can say, for the foreseeable future,” Trump said on Monday.

Three Democratic senators have requested an investigation from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the costs of Trump’s event.

Sens. Tom Udall (NM), Patrick Leahy (VT) and Chris Van Hollen (MD) sent a letter to the agency on Monday detailing their concerns over how the spending on Trump’s event is being hidden from Congressional oversight.

“We are very concerned by the impacts and the precedent of diverting limited Federal resources—including the use of military personnel, equipment and aircraft as well as other appropriations or visitor fees paid to improve national parks—to organize and execute unbudgeted events,” they noted.

The senators also pointed out reports that the Republican National Committee was given preferential access to sections of the National Mall.

Those actions “furthers the appearance that taxpayer funds were used to accomplish political objectives,” the senators said.

Trump’s egotistical celebration cost taxpayers millions of unnecessary dollars and now while he basks in the afterglow the truth is hitting home.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.