US President Donald Trump hosted the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The race took place on a 1.7-mile street circuit, forming part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Preparations for the event included welding down more than 200 manhole covers around the course to prevent them from being dislodged by the racing cars. The National Gallery of Art also assessed potential vibrations from the vehicles and shielded some outdoor sculptures.
President Trump waved the green flag to start the race, after initially needing assistance from his wife, Melania Trump, and Command Sgt Maj Matt Williams to hold it correctly. Kyle Kirkwood was the winner of the Freedom 250 race, which involved drivers completing 147 laps covering approximately 250 miles (400km).
During the event, air traffic at Washington's Ronald Reagan National airport was paused for three hours to accommodate flyovers by military aircraft, including a B-2 stealth bomber. House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told Fox News that he intends to bring the IndyCar Grand Prix back to Washington DC next year and make it an annual event.