Trump Announces 'Freedom 250' — INDYCAR Street Race Planned For Downtown Washington This August

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration will bring a large INDYCAR street race to downtown Washington this August as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations.

Standing with senior officials in the Oval Office, Trump signed an executive order establishing what the White House calls the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C." — described by officials as the first-ever INDYCAR street race in the nation’s capital.

The executive order directs the Departments of the Interior and Transportation to identify, within 14 days, a route "suitable for conducting an INDYCAR street race and that will showcase the majesty of our capital city in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence," and to issue the necessary permits, approvals and authorizations to hold the event.

Event Details

• Dates: The three-day event is scheduled for Aug. 21–23.
• Routing: Agencies have 14 days to designate a suitable street route and complete permitting.
• Official Statements: Trump said, "I love the racing. I don't have a lot of time to watch it, but I love the racing." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added, "To think, 190 miles an hour down Pennsylvania Avenue — this is going to be wild." Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the race merges the capital's history with the speed and innovation of IndyCar.

Officials framed the event as both a celebratory spectacle for the U.S. 250th anniversary and a showcase of innovation in motorsports. The administration directed federal agencies to move quickly on route selection and permitting; local logistics, safety planning and community impacts will depend on the route ultimately chosen and the approvals issued.

Note: The White House described this as the first INDYCAR street race in Washington, D.C.; exact circuit details and operational plans had not been released at the time of the announcement.