Donald Trump's Independence Day parade was inspired by the US President's Bastille Day visit to France in July 2017.

Since then he has vowed to "top" France's display of patriotism and military strength.

But like a handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron, the American leader was once again left crushed.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms threatened to outright cancel the President's Fourth of July festivities. ( Reuters: Carlos Barria )

The heavy rain that fell on his Fourth of July event made the tanks look a little sad.

By the President's own metrics — crowd size and TV ratings — the show fell short of expectations too.

Only one network took the speech live and the crowd size was measured in the thousands, rather than the hundreds of thousands promised by Mr Trump.

For those who were there, the audio was muffled and even a short distance from the stage, many couldn't hear Mr Trump speak.

"I liked the bits I heard," one supporter told me.

Internationally, Mr Trump's salute to America was compared more to the crass displays of North Korea and China than France.

France's display of patriotism and military strength for Bastille Day in 2018. ( Reuters: Gonzalo Fuentes )

Unlike the deep national affection for Bastille Day in France, America's birth of revolutionary nationhood has long been apolitical.

The one exception in recent history took place in 1970 when President Richard Nixon's event to honour America ended in tear gas and fistfights with Vietnam War protesters.

This time around, the President's critics slammed the cost of the parade and the autocratic undertones of displaying tanks in the street.

Trump supporters as well as military families were given VIP tickets to the parade. ( Reuters: Carlos Barria )

But for Mr Trump's supporters, it symbolised a return to what they see as America's core values: God, family and the military.

"I'm down here because I love our country and I love this president and I'm a patriot," said Trump supporter Christine Powell.

"To me, it's all about God, the flag, country, family, faith. I think that you should love where you live," she said.

Mr Trump's speech symbolised values they feel are often looked down upon or sneered at by the mainstream media.

Nevertheless, the crowds were modest compared to those that have flocked to the National Mall for presidential inaugurations.

Loading

Protesters were there too, dragging along with them a giant balloon called the Trump Baby.

The military did what their commander-in-chief asked of them, putting on an impressive display of America's strength.

Still, it was an awkward way to celebrate the nation's birthday with Americans hopelessly divided on its current direction.

Some Americans also told me that it was jarring to see tanks in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

It is one of Washington DC's most beautiful memorials and means different things to many people.

Commonly it's a symbol of the tragedy of war rather than military might.

Perhaps Donald Trump's dream of turning Independence Day into a French affair will one day grow and achieve broad acceptance.

The US Marine Corps put on a display for the crowds at the Lincoln Memorial. ( AP: Alex Brandon )

Bastille Day has included a presidential role for far longer and it is a big ask to match it the first time.

For now though, the image of rain falling heavily on a tank parked inelegantly by the Lincoln Memorial may be the enduring memory.