President Donald Trump announced a historic IndyCar event to be held in the nation's capital this summer. The race, termed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, is part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event was made official through an executive order signed by the President in the presence of racing icon Roger Penske.
The executive order aims to expedite the planning process with federal agencies for the occasion. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted President Trump's directive to deliver a groundbreaking and quintessentially American experience. Duffy revealed that the Penske Corporation had been advocating for a Washington D.C. street race, which, with White House support, is now set to become a reality.
Secretary Duffy humorously envisioned IndyCars speeding at nearly 190 miles per hour down Pennsylvania Avenue, a spectacle unseen in the city's modern political era. He referenced a historic horse race from 1801, hosted by President Thomas Jefferson, as the last race held on Washington streets.
The temporary race course construction is slated for August 21 to 23, with the main event occurring on August 23, serving as a focal point of the America250 celebrations. President Trump expressed that the race aligns with the expansive festivities planned across the country for the 250th anniversary.
Following the announcement, an AI-generated video was released by the White House showing potential scenes of the event, including fighter jet flyovers and Marine One's arrival next to the Capitol. President Trump and Secretary Duffy were depicted in the video, waving the starting and finishing flags, respectively.
The IndyCar race adds to a series of bold America250 projects, such as UFC fights on the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Trump's birthday, and the construction of a significant arch over the Arlington Memorial Bridge, informally dubbed the Arc de Trump. Trump shared renderings of the arch on social media, with one design featuring gold elements and renamed the Independence Arch.
America250 festivities have already begun in Washington with fireworks and monument projections, signaling a year of immense patriotic celebration under President Trump's leadership. The President's involvement in America250 follows his attendance at the Daytona 500 in February 2025 and aligns with his first-term activities.
