Fact check: What was the official reason for cancelling the proposed military parade in 2018?

1. Summary of the results

The official reason for cancelling the proposed military parade in 2018 was the "ridiculously high" price tag of $92 million, which was more than three times the initial estimate provided by the White House ^{[1] [2]}. President Donald Trump made the cancellation announcement, specifically citing the excessive cost as the determining factor ^{[3] [1]}.

The sources consistently report that Trump blamed the high costs for the decision, with one source noting that he specifically blamed local Washington, D.C. politicians for driving up the expenses ^[3]. Instead of proceeding with the parade, Trump announced plans to attend an event at Andrews Air Force Base and travel to Paris for World War I centennial events ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements that provide a fuller picture of the cancellation:

• Cost escalation details: The $92 million figure represented a dramatic increase from initial estimates, being more than three times what was originally projected ^{[1] [2]}
• Political blame assignment: Trump specifically targeted local Washington, D.C. politicians as responsible for the inflated costs, suggesting the cancellation may have had political dimensions beyond pure fiscal concerns ^[3]
• Alternative plans: Rather than simply cancelling military commemorative events entirely, Trump pivoted to other military-related activities, including the Andrews Air Force Base event and international World War I centennial participation ^[4]
• Timing considerations: The cancellation occurred in August 2018, with Trump suggesting the possibility of holding the parade "maybe next year," indicating this may have been viewed as a postponement rather than permanent cancellation ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual, simply asking for the official reason for the cancellation. However, there are no apparent signs of misinformation or bias in the phrasing of the question itself. The question appropriately seeks the "official reason," which the sources consistently identify as the high cost, making this a straightforward factual inquiry rather than a loaded or biased question.