President Donald Trump will wave the green flag to send race cars screaming through D.C. streets for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix this weekend – and he’ll take a “lap of honor” in The Beast.
Trump and Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy each will wave flags, Bud Denker, the chairman of the race, said in a video Duffy posted to X on Wednesday night.
“Our president will be waving the green flag, so it’s gonna be super, be so epic. And Secretary Duffy will be up there to wave the checkered flag for the finish of the race,” Denker said.
Before the race begins, the president will do “a lap of honor around the course in The Beast,” a White House official confirmed to NBC News.
First lady Melania Trump and other family members will be in attendance, and there will be flyovers, the official said.
The president previously took ceremonial laps in The Beast, the heavily armored presidential limo, at the Daytona 500 in 2020 and 2025.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is bringing major road restrictions to D.C. Federal authorities will temporarily pause flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for a three-hour period on Sunday.
Denker said he’s eagerly awaiting the race.
“This is not for me. It’s not for IndyCar. This is truly for our country. Looking forward to showcasing this event to the world,” he said.
