Washington, D.C. hosts Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race

Washington, D.C. hosted the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar street race held on a 1.7-mile circuit along Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participated in the opening festivities, including a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine.

Trump’s ceremonial waving of the green flag to start the race went viral, drawing significant social media mockery regarding his handling of the flag and raising questions from critics about his cognitive fitness. Conversely, the White House described the event as a spectacular celebration, and Trump claimed the project was finalized quickly after discussions with IndyCar owner Roger Penske.

Fox Sports also drew criticism for posting a video labeling Trump as 'the Sports President,' which some observers viewed as political, contrasting with the network's historical reputation for remaining separate from political discourse. The event drew an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 attendees to the nation's capital.