Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark told Newsmax TV on Friday that a military parade in the nation's capital "will be a brilliant stroke, politically" for President Donald Trump.
"Military people don't like parades," Clark, 73, who retired with four stars in 2000 after 34 years, told Miranda Khan on "America Talks Live" in an exclusive interview. "It's a big pain in the neck.
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"You'd much rather be training somewhere and doing exercises about what you're going to do.
"But," he added, "for the country, not necessarily a bad thing."
Trump has come under fire after news reports this week that he told the Pentagon last month to plan a military parade in Washington — with troops, tanks and other hardware — similar to Bastille Day celebrations in France.
"At the political level, there's a political logic at what President Trump is requesting," Clark told Khan, "because people like to see a parade.
"People like to see their soldiers on display. It does make them feel good."
He recalled the 1991 parade after the U.S. victory in Operation Desert Storm, which he viewed "on the sidelines" in Washington.
The U.S.-led coalition was commanded by Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.
"It was a thrilling moment," Clark said. "It was different, because it was a celebration of a success.
"Here, we'd be just showing off the hardware and the troops, but I'm very proud of those troops.
"I'm very proud of our armed forces — and I'd like the American people to be just as proud."
Clark later added: "If I were advising him, I'd probably would've said, 'You don't need to do this,' and he probably would've said, 'Yes, but it would be a brilliant stroke.'
"He's probably right," the retired general told Khan. "It will be a brilliant stroke, politically, for him."
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