In a move that promises to blend speed with patriotic celebration, President Donald Trump has officially announced that an IndyCar race will take place on the streets of Washington, D.C. this summer, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The announcement was made during a gathering in the Oval Office, where President Trump was joined by Roger Penske, a legendary figure in the racing world and chairman of the Penske Corporation. In a symbolic gesture, Trump signed an executive order to facilitate the organization of the event.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, accompanied by his wife, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, also attended the meeting. He expressed that the president had urged him to devise an innovative and memorable plan, something that could be described as both ‘historic and cool.’

Interestingly, unbeknownst to Duffy, Penske’s company had already been exploring the possibility of hosting a race in the nation’s capital. The event has since been christened the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a nod to the historic milestone it represents.

Commenting on the race’s potential, Duffy enthused about the prospect of cars racing at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour down Pennsylvania Avenue, describing it as an exhilarating spectacle.

In a historical context, Duffy highlighted that the last time the streets of Washington witnessed such a racing event was back in 1801, when President Thomas Jefferson organized a horse race. Now, over two centuries later, the city is poised to host a very different kind of race, blending tradition with modern thrills.

The race track is slated to be in place from August 21-23 with the main race taking place on August 23. 

‘And they’re going to put up something that’s really amazing,’ Trump gushed. ‘It’s really having to do with our great 250th birthday. We’re having so many wonderful things.’ 

Shortly after the announcement, the White House put out an AI-generated video of what the race could look like.

It included eagles flying alongside Marine One as Trump arrived at the racetrack – set up outside the U.S. Capitol Building – with the president then waving the green flag. 

The video showed several military flyovers, including of a B-2 bomber.  

The AI-generated Duffy was waving the checkered flag to end the grand prix. 

Trump has backed a number of interesting events and projects as part of the America250 celebration.

The White House plans to host a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on the South Lawn in conjunction with Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14. 

‘UFC is coming, as you know, in front of the White House, we’re building literally a stadium over 100,000 people,’ Trump said Friday.

The president is a close friend of UFC CEO Dana White.

Trump has traveled to watch a number of UFC fights and White introduced Trump when he delivered his keynote speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

The president, who demolished the White House’s East Wing to make room for a gilded ballroom, is also working on a construction project in conjunction with America250. 

He’s planning to build a ‘triumphant arch’ – which has been nicknamed the ‘Arc de Trump’ across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, to serve as a gateway to Washington, D.C.

Last Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social three renderings of the triumphal arch, including one that was partially covered in gold. 

In the gilded version, the structure has been renamed ‘the independence arch.’ 

America250 celebrations have already started kicking off around the country. 

In Washington, D.C. that included a projector show on the Washington Monument and a Monday night fireworks display, which spooked some District residents because it came on the heels of Trump’s decision to capture and imprison Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.