Democratic consultant James Carville called President Donald Trump’s military parade, which will be held on his birthday, a “golden opportunity” for Democrats to rally together to prop up U.S. veterans.

“This is a fight we can fight together,” Carville said. “This is an important fight because it says so much about us as a nation, and it has the potential of saying so much about us as a political party, and the real potential of saying so much about them as a political party. They’re always talking about how we want to talk about values, but what higher value do you have than in the contract that a nation makes for their veterans? That’s a value. That’s a value that we ought to all stand together.”

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Carville criticized the proposal to cut 15% of staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs, or about 80,000 employees. The Democratic strategist said the cuts would hurt the ability of veterans to seek crucial mental health services.

“The Trump administration Republicans are gonna f*ck Johnny!” Carville said. “That’s what’s going to happen to Johnny! He’s gonna end up eating a .38! And his last call is going to be to a non-existent veterans’ suicide prevention hotline.”

At a Senate hearing last month, VA Secretary Doug Collins said the 15% proposal is not final.

Carville said Democrats would be far better off making support for veterans a central message as opposed to “fighting the oligarchy,” referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) speaking tour that stopped at Coachella in April. He says the message of fighting for veterans would register more with the masses. 

“They don’t know what an oligarch is, but they know where the veteran is, they know what suicide is, they know what an obligation is, they know what a country is,” Carville said.  “And I would ask my friends on the progressive side of the equation or whatever it is, this is something that we can join together in.”

Trump’s military parade is set for June 14 and is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Army. It’s garnered fierce criticism from Democrats, in particular Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who called the parade a “celebration” of his “power.” 

TRUMP MILITARY PARADE: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ARMY’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN DC

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also expressed concern about the parade’s impact on the roads. 

The parade is projected to cost $45 million, with $16 million expected to go to repairing damaged roads caused by the military tanks.