President Donald Trump marked a historic event in Washington on August 23 by taking a lap around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race route in "the Beast," his heavily armored presidential limousine. The President, who attended the race alongside first lady Melania Trump, sat in the vehicle and waved to crowds of attendees and military members as Air Force One flew overhead. He completed a circuit of the 1.7-mile track at a slower speed than the professional racers before officially waving the green flag to start the competition.
During a broadcast on Fox Sports, the President commented on the ceremonial drive, stating, "We're going to make a little circle in a nice, secure car, slightly slower than the ones we're going to witness, but we're going to have fun." As the motorcade navigated the track, the crowd cheered, though at least one woman was spotted by reporters giving a thumbs-down gesture as the vehicle passed.
The race is part of a series of events organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. While a bipartisan congressional commission known as America 250 was established in 2016 to plan summer events, the President also formed a private-public partnership called Freedom 250. This initiative has hosted several events, including a July 4th fireworks display, a UFC fight on the White House lawn in June, and the Great American State Fair. In July, the White House hosted an initial Grand Prix showcase that featured participation from IndyCar drivers Alex Palou, David Malukas, and Felix Rosenqvist.
