President Donald Trump is backing a proposal to bring an IndyCar race roaring across the National Mall during the America250 celebration.
The ambitious push centers on a Department of Transportation effort to stage a full-scale IndyCar Grand Prix in the heart of Washington, D.C., a move supporters frame as patriotic spectacle and critics brand reckless disruption.
Trump amplified the idea with an AI-generated video posted to Truth Social that imagined race cars blasting past the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
The video showed packed crowds lining a fictional course through the National Mall as drivers ripped through turns against some of the most iconic backdrops in American history.
What’s more AMERICAN than a RACE around our nation’s capitol? Freedom!⁰⁰Democrats, START YOUR ENGINES…. and let’s get this over the finish line 🦅🏎️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nSkrI3wBJC
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 23, 2026
Transportation officials pitched the race as both a celebration and an economic play, framing it as a win for tourism and national pride.
“The Grand Prix is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate our nation’s proud racing pedigree, showcase the beauty of the National Mall and generate millions in critical tourism revenue for the capital,” a Department of Transportation spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson tied the proposal directly to the administration’s broader agenda, arguing the event fits neatly into Trump’s vision for Washington.
Apparently Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing to host an IndyCar race on the National Mall as part of America's 250 year celebration….
Wouldn't it be more American to have a NASCAR race? 🤷🏻🤣 pic.twitter.com/mq4mGPLEev— cjrseabee3 (@CodyTheSeabee) January 23, 2026
“The Trump Administration is determined to make D.C. great again, and this race is another example of that commitment,” the spokesperson added, noting the department would continue outreach on Capitol Hill.
Organizers are eyeing Aug. 21 for the race, a Friday that would slot neatly into IndyCar’s calendar gap between the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy and the Snap-On Milwaukee weekend.
IndyCar traditionally races on Sundays, but no event is scheduled for the Sunday following the Aug. 16 Ontario race, opening the door for an unconventional Friday showdown.
Despite the flashy rollout, the plan faces immediate hurdles rooted in law, logistics and politics.
One looming obstacle involves restrictions on advertising on Capitol grounds, a complication given that promotional signage is a standard part of modern racing events.
Another unresolved question centers on the exact course layout, even as Trump’s video prominently featured landmarks spread across the Mall.
The largest roadblock sits squarely with Congress, which must pass legislation authorizing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to move forward with the race.
Democrats have already voiced strong resistance, with critics labeling the proposal “absurd” and warning it would stretch Capitol Police and surrounding infrastructure too thin.
Opponents argue that closing roads and securing federal property for a high-speed race would create unnecessary strain in an already congested area.
Some Democratic pushback appears rooted less in logistics and more in raw politics, according to comments attributed to lawmakers familiar with internal discussions.
One Democrat pointed to frustration with Republicans over an unresolved dispute involving a Capitol plaque honoring victims of the January 6, 2021 riot.
Others questioned the optics of approving what they view as a costly sporting spectacle while refusing to extend health care subsidies to millions of Americans.
Republican leaders and top Democrats alike have been briefed on the proposal, including Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
If approved, the IndyCar race would become one of the centerpiece events tied to America250 celebrations in the nation’s capital.
The proposed race would follow another high-profile sporting event already planned as part of the anniversary lineup, a UFC card scheduled for June 14 on the White House grounds.
That UFC event coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday and has already sparked its own round of debate about sports, politics and spectacle.
UFC CEO and President Dana White brushed aside concerns that the White House fight card would be “too political,” arguing history is filled with presidents openly supporting sports.
“I mean, I don’t know how it would be too political other than it’s at the White House,” White said with a laugh during an interview with Bloomberg’s Romaine Bostick.
White pointed to past presidents’ fandoms as evidence that enthusiasm for sports does not automatically politicize competition.
“Listen, if you look back throughout history, I think [former President] George Bush was a big baseball fan, [former President Barack] Obama was an NBA fan and Trump is a UFC fan,” he continued.
White insisted that presidential interest alone has never turned a sport into a political battleground.
“I don’t think that any of those guys being fans made any sport too political,” he added.
According to White, preparations for the White House event are already well underway.
He claimed logistics for the June fights are “dialed in,” with roughly 5,000 spectators expected on the White House lawn.
An additional 85,000 fans would watch on large screens set up at The Ellipse, turning the surrounding area into a massive viewing zone.
“We’re going to take over Washington, D.C. the week of the fight,” White declared.
White also suggested enthusiasm among fighters is high, even though no final bout lineup has been announced.
“Just about everybody on the roster wants to fight on the card,” he said, calling the event “a one-of-one special event.”
He described the White House card as historic, noting its uniqueness in the world of combat sports.
“When will there ever be another fight or sporting event at the White House,” White asked, stressing the stakes for matchmakers.
While planning for America250 events continues, controversy tied to the UFC world spilled into the spotlight elsewhere this week.
UFC fighter Sean Strickland sparked a heated confrontation after bringing Kyle Rittenhouse to Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas.
Rittenhouse became infamous during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he shot three people and killed two.
After being acquitted of all charges four years ago, Rittenhouse emerged as a prominent figure among Second Amendment supporters.
Footage posted to Jake Shields’ YouTube channel showed Strickland introducing Rittenhouse at the gym as “this dorky motherf***er.”
The introduction quickly escalated into a tense exchange with fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis.
“Sean, you know how I feel about this s***,” Curtis said as he confronted Strickland in the gym.
Curtis questioned why Rittenhouse was invited into what he described as his personal space.
“Why would you invite this guy? Why would you do this? F*** this guy,” Curtis continued during the argument.
He compared Rittenhouse’s acquittal to another high-profile case, saying, “He’s innocent the same way Bill Cosby is innocent.”
Curtis accused Strickland of disrespect, adding, “You’re one of my best friends. Why would you [invite him to] my f***ing home?”
Strickland later addressed the incident on social media, offering a lengthy explanation of his decision.
“Kyle Rittenhouse is a dorky white kid who was hanging out with a bunch of OLDER WEIRDOS,” Strickland wrote, describing the circumstances surrounding the 2020 shooting.
He defended Rittenhouse’s actions as self-defense and criticized broader political narratives.
@SStricklandMMA Thanks for saying it like it is. I was a dumb kid thrown into hell, defended my life, got acquitted. Appreciate the real talk, brother. Keep kicking ass. You're a hell of a fighter.
— Kyle Rittenhouse 🇺🇸 (@rittenhouse2a) January 22, 2026
“This is just a reminder to live life and dont let politics consume you,” Strickland added in the post.
Rittenhouse replied directly, thanking Strickland for the support and reflecting on his own experience.
“Thanks for saying it like it is,” Rittenhouse wrote. “I was a dumb kid thrown into hell, defended my life, got acquitted.”