WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� For once, things will be moving quickly in bureaucratic Washington, D.C., when the nation鈥檚 capital hosts an through its streets.
President and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to watch Sunday鈥檚 Freedom 250 Grand Prix as the cars whip through the city鈥檚 downtown, including a stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue not too far from the White House.
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.
Before the race, Trump and his wife will lead a traditional prerace kickoff in his presidential limo, U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump鈥檚 liaison to the organizing group America250, said in an interview on Fox Business on Friday.
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 will be horsepower.
In addition to the main event, there will also be a prerace show and flyovers of military aircraft, which swooped and boomed over the city during the July Fourth celebrations.
The IndyCar race comes as Trump has been struggling 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.
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�
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.
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 was the welding of more than 200 manhole covers to ensure the race cars don鈥檛 suck them up off the road.
Sunday鈥檚 festivities are 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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