US leader wants to 'top' French Bastille Day parade

US President Donald Trump. Photo / AP

Who doesn't love a parade?

To a city that already offers many, US President Donald Trump wants to add one that showcases US military might.

It would take place on July 4 in Washington with, as Trump envisions it, tanks and planes rolling down and streaking above Pennsylvania Avenue.

Trump talked up the idea today as he sat down with French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the President and first lady Melania Trump for France's military parade in the centre of Paris on Bastille Day in July.

Trump said the two-hour procession was a "tremendous thing for France and for the spirit of France" and suggested he wants the same for Americans.

And the President said he wants the parade to be bigger and better than the one he saw in France.

"It was one of the greatest parades I have ever seen," Trump said. "It was two hours on the button, and was military might, and I think a tremendous thing for France and the spirit of France."

He added: "And to a large extent, because of what I witnessed, we may do something like that on July 4th in Washington, down Pennsylvania Avenue. We're going to have to try and top it."

"So we're actually thinking about 4th of July, Pennsylvania Avenue, having a really great parade to show our military strength," Trump said.

He said he has discussed the parade idea with his chief of staff, John Kelly, a retired Marine general.

- AP