Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ was a second-rate Red Square rally – but one Democrat managed to find hope | The Independent

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Washington DC isn’t built for tanks, but to a reality TV president with a keen eye for stagecraft, everything is a potential set.

Donald Trump had wanted these war machines to rumble through the rarefied streets of the nation’s capital until he was thwarted by engineers.

Send a fleet of these 60-ton monsters over the bridge from Arlington National Cemetery, they said, and it could crumble into the Potomac River.

Plan B: they were plopped into static positions outside the Lincoln Memorial after being delivered by train at an estimated cost of around $750,000.

He’d been inspired by France’s nationalism-soaked Bastille Day celebrations – a day during which a nation usually queasy about military might throws its arms around the troops – during a trip in 2017.

All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCShow all 71/7All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DC

All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCMillion Man March 95 – 837,000

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan called the Million Man March in 1995 in order that black men could improve their image in society

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCMillion Mom March – Over 700,000

Demanding sensible gun legislation, over 700,000 mothers, grandmothers and other marched on Washington in the year 2000

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCMarch on Washington for Jobs and Freedom – 300,000

The 1963 march that saw Martin Luther King give his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech drew 300,000 people to the National Mall to demand civil rights

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCWomen’s March – Over 200,000

The day after the inauguration of President Trump, women all over the world took to the streets in protest of his comments on women. 200,000 marched on Washington alone.

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCMarch for Women’s Lives – 1.1 million

A pro-choice rally in 2004 drew over a million people to the National Mall to protest against the Bush administration’s policies on family planning and reproductive health issues

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCMarch on Washington for LGBT rights – Over 1,000,000

Over 1,000,000 people marched on Washington in April 1993 to demand greater rights for LGBT people

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All the times that bigger crowds than Trump’s showed up to DCObama’s Inauguration – 1.1 million

The inauguration on Barack Obama in January 2009 drew 1.1 million (top) people to the National Mall, the highest number since Lyndon B Johnson’s second inauguration in 1965. President Trump falsely claimed that his crowd (bottom) was bigger

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And this could all have been a blockbuster Hollywood remake of a European classic – if he’d gotten his own way. Instead, after reported resistance to a full-scale military showcase from senior aides, this felt at times like a straight-to-DVD version of a Red Square parade.

There were no legions of troops, no tanks rolling down the Mall, and some of the war machines that did end up on display – like the M4 Sherman – last appeared on the battlefield for the US in the 1950s.

And while he surprised many with his avoidance of partisan political statements in his speech, his army of Maga hat-wearing fans had already painted the town red.

Many July 4 regulars told The Independent that the mood was different as a result; politically charged on a day when Americans traditionally set that aside.

At one point, a French news reporter asked an elderly woman in the crowd why July 4 was important to her. “Because we defeated tyranny and remained free,” she replied.

“Ah, the English,” he stated.

“No, Hillary Clinton!”

On one side street, a mother remonstrated with her Maga hat-wearing teenage son for refusing to apply sunscreen. “You won’t have any because you’re young and stupid,” she said, pointing at the cap on his head then yanking it backwards.

On the same stretch of pavement a group of “Proud Boys” shuffled through the crowd at one point, catching the eye of a young girl who looked up from a red-white-and-blue ice-lolly in time to spot the male chauvinist group known for their street fighting.

But if Mr Trump’s supporters had arrived expecting some Democrat-baiting, they would have left sorely disappointed.

Mr Trump stuck to the script, and on the rare occasions that he does that, he looks and sounds unnervingly presidential.

A heavy downpour, which eased off to a drizzle during his speech left his bulletproof glass barrier streaked with raindrops.

The usually inconspicuous shield protects his front and sides from any would-be assassins. His back was protected by mysterious figures with binoculars who lurked on the roof of the Lincoln Memorial.

Those rain streaks resulted in unclear television broadcast images of Mr Trump, forcing aides to scramble around the media pen demanding cameramen turn off their LED lighting, because it was making visibility even worse.

Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle SamShow all 301/30Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam