President Donald Trump‘s summer-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday ended Sunday the only way it possibly could: with race cars, fighter jets, a presidential limousine, an operatic tenor and a bald eagle flying over Washington.
The inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix transformed streets surrounding the National Mall into an IndyCar course, bringing thousands of spectators to the capital for what was billed as the finale of Trump’s months-long patriotic celebration.
And subtle, it was not.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump opened the festivities by taking a ceremonial lap around the course in the Beast, the presidential limousine. Melania, making a relatively rare public appearance, wore a bright white top and black pants — an optimistic color choice for an afternoon of race cars.
Tenor Christopher Macchio, a Trump favorite, performed the national anthem. A trained bald eagle flew over the starting line. Military aircraft roared overhead. Even the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 now serving as Air Force One joined the spectacle, flying above the course escorted by fighter jets as Trump and Melania circled below.
Trump then waved the green flag to begin the race before watching from a glass-enclosed presidential viewing box.
The spectacle capped months of Freedom 250 events that have repeatedly combined national birthday celebrations with Trump’s personal taste for pageantry, including a UFC fight on the White House lawn and other sporting and patriotic events.
The race itself took weeks to build. Streets around downtown Washington began facing restrictions in July as crews constructed the temporary circuit, and some closures will continue into September while it is dismantled.
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Once the green flag fell, drivers raced 147 laps through Washington, with six cautions and several crashes interrupting the afternoon.
Driver Kyle Kirkwood ultimately survived the chaos, winning the first IndyCar race held on the streets of the nation’s capital. Christian Lundgaard finished second and Will Power third.
For all the presidential pageantry surrounding it, the unusual setting earned praise from the drivers. Kirkwood called Washington an “incredible place” to race.
The event was designed as the grand finale to this summer’s Freedom 250, Trump’s version of America 250.
With a bald eagle, fighter jets, Air Force One, the Beast and race cars roaring through the nation’s capital, Trump certainly didn’t send the celebration out quietly.
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