WASHINGTON – A military parade requested by US President Donald Trump thathad been planned for November in Washington has been postponed until atleast next year, the Defence Department said .

“We originally targeted November 10, 2018 for this event but have nowagreed to explore opportunities in 2019,” Defence Department SpokesmanColonel Rob Manning said in a statement.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unclearexactly what caused the postponement but the increased cost of the eventhad caused concern and could be one reason.

The parade to honour US military veterans and commemorate the 100thanniversary of the end of World War One could cost more than $90 million,the US official said, citing provisional planning figures that were nearlythree times an earlier White House estimate.

The official said the cost estimate of about $92 million had not yet beenapproved by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and could still be changed andmore options could be included.

In February, Trump asked the Pentagon to explore a parade in celebration ofAmerican troops, after the Republican president marvelled at the BastilleDay military parade he attended in Paris last year.

Earlier this year, the White House budget chief said the parade would costUS taxpayers between $10 million and $30 million.