WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� For once, things were moving fast in the nation’s capital.
Washington was hosting an through its streets Sunday, with President and first lady Melania Trump kicking off the Freedom 250 Grand Prix by leading a slow lap in the presidential limousine through the course. Soon after, the president waved the green flag to start the race and drivers began whipping through downtown, including a stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue not too far from the White House.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to make a little circle in a nice, secure car, slightly slower than the ones we鈥檙e going to witness, but we鈥檙e going to have fun,鈥� Trump said in an interview on Fox shortly before the ride.
The open-wheel race, with cars whizzing past Washington鈥檚 monuments at speeds approaching 200 mph, this year to mark America鈥檚 250th birthday.
Trump鈥檚 other events to mark the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence鈥檚 signing have included , military aircraft flyovers, on the National Mall and a Great American State Fair that after scores of 鈥�90s-era musical acts dropped out. The events have all had a Trumpian flair, featuring appearances from his friends and the aim of showcasing spectacle, Americana and power.
In this latest case, it was be horsepower.
Racing day brings out some of Trump’s favorites
Sunday included some of Trump’s favorite flourishes. One of his favorite singers, tenor Christopher Macchio, performed, 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner.鈥� A trained bald eagle was dramatically released near the start line, and it swooped and flew overhead before returning to its handler.
There were flyovers of military aircraft, which have boomed over the city during the July Fourth celebrations, among other events. One flyover Sunday involved a formation featuring a B-2 stealth bomber, which Trump frequently boasts about for its role in dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
Air Force One, escorted by four fighter jets, flew overhead as Trump did his lap. The jet was the Qatar-gifted aircraft that the president has been using as Air Force One, which has attracted scrutiny not only for Trump鈥檚 acceptance of the luxury gift but because it is with some of the same missile detection and countermeasure systems found on older presidential jets.
The IndyCar race took place Trump has struggled to resolve the war he started nearly six months ago with Iran, a conflict that has driven up gasoline prices and exacerbated worries from officials in his Republican Party that voters in this see the president as distracted and not focused enough on cost-of-living concerns.
Trump in his second term has increasingly seemed to focus on relishing the presidency鈥檚 ceremonial aspects. That’s included a healthy dose of visits to sporting events 鈥� including an appearance last month at the World Cup final, and lingered onstage with the team as its members jumped in a hail of confetti.
Bringing Indy to DC was a longtime quest for racing series owner
From his viewing box, Trump had the honor of waving the green flag to kick off the race.
Before the race, Trump and his wife met and chatted with some of the race drivers. They then took a slow drive through the course in a small motorcade and could be seen waving at the crowd as a Marine Corps band played 鈥淪tars and Stripes Forever.”
IndyCar series owner Roger Penske, a longtime friend of Trump鈥檚 who received the from him in 2019, helped lead the effort to bring the race to Washington.
Trump told Fox on Sunday that Penske told him that he had been trying to bring the race to Washington for 20 years.
鈥淲hen he came to see Trump it got done in about 15 minutes and it鈥檚 turned out to be much bigger than we ever even thought possible,鈥� the president said, referring to himself in the third person.
Penske met Trump when he arrived at the course and later joined him in his viewing box, as did the president鈥檚 friend and UFC CEO Dana White, who helped put on the fight at the White House in June.
An calling for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix declared that the 鈥渃ars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport,鈥� and the event will 鈥渟howcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America鈥檚 250th birthday.鈥�
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox 太子探花 Channel that he wants to push to bring the event back next year and make it an annual event.
Trump wanted to hear 鈥榝reedom roar鈥� from the powerful racing machines
鈥淭heir beautiful cars are going to make freedom roar. This will be a freedom that鈥檚 roaring like never before,鈥� Trump said at the White House earlier this month as he promoted the event.
Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation and the race鈥檚 chair, said that Penske is paying for the 鈥渧ast majority鈥� of the race, including building the track and road improvements, while the District of Columbia handled some repaving.
Among the changes needed on the city鈥檚 streets for the Indycar race was the welding of more than 200 maintenance hole covers to ensure the race cars don鈥檛 suck them up off the road.
Sunday鈥檚 festivities were also the latest opportunity for Trump , including , the construction of a massive White House ballroom, a gold-adorned Oval Office and .
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