Trump highlights upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington
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President Donald Trump on Monday settled the debate over whether race car drivers are athletes as he showcased the power of his administration’s IndyCar vehicles ahead of next month’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.
Trump attended the Freedom 250 Grand Prix show at the White House along with IndyCar star Álex Palou, racing team owner Roger Penske and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
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President Donald Trump reacts after receiving a helmet on West Executive Drive at the White House during the showcase of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race, Monday, July 13, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP (Alex Brandon/AP)
“Next month, these incredible sports drivers, athletes, they’re great athletes,” Trump said. “There’s nothing no one can do. They’re born with something special. They’re born with the ability to push that pedal all the way down. Most people can’t do that. Very few people can.”
“They are beautiful cars. They will roar freedom. It will be freedom roaring like never before.”
The show also featured a live pit stop.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC will take place on August 22 and 23. The track layout features 2.66 miles of driving and seven turns.
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Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou gives a helmet to President Donald Trump on West Executive Drive at the White House during the showcase of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Trump’s statement comes as a debate rages in the racing world about whether professional race car drivers are truly athletes.
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith waded into this territory in April when a caller on his radio show suggested that Richard Petty was one of the greatest athletes of all time. He said driving doesn’t count as an athlete.
NASCAR greats Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson pushed back on Smith’s insinuations in an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the Indy 500 in May.
President Donald Trump speaks with Alex Palou, Bud Denker, David Malukas and Roger Penske on West Executive Drive at the White House during the showcase of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race, Monday, July 13, 2026, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
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Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, challenged Smith, or anyone else for that matter, to take a spin in a race car “without feeling like they’re going to die.”
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
