Live updates: Trump military parade, ‘No Kings’ protests

The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman said he would’ve advised against hosting a big military parade in Washington, DC — an unease with the event reflected by some of his fellow Senate Republicans.

“I would have recommended against the parade,” Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi told CNN when asked for his views on the event.

Wicker, the chamber’s top Republican with oversight of the military, said he would be out of town attending the Paris Air Show during the parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump’s birthday.

Most of the GOP senators surveyed by CNN this week said they did not plan to attend:

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune won’t be in DC for the parade. Asked about spending some $45 million on it at a time when many Republicans are demanding government austerity, he said: “There are a lot of people who believe that’s a cause worth celebrating.”

• An aide to Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said that after being at the White House twice this week, the senator would be back in Wyoming celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday and Flag Day with his constituents.

• Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, Senate Foreign Relations chairman, said he would miss the parade. “Come on guys, we have lot of stuff to do. We have lots of parades in Washington,” he said.

• Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas will also be at the air show in Paris, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will be home celebrating his wedding anniversary, though he said he “would love to see it.”

• Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Josh Hawley of Missouri, John Curtis of Utah, John Kennedy of Louisianna and Chuck Grassley all won’t be there.

One Republican with whom CNN spoke — Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall — told reporters Thursday he plans to attend the parade.