President Trump took laps around the Daytona 500 speedway in his motorcade, “The Beast.”
Before the race, he spoke to the drivers inside the track.
“This is your favorite president,” Trump said. “I’m a big fan. I’m a really big fan of you people. How you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe.”
“You’re talented people and you’re great people, and great Americans,” he continued. “Have a good day, and have a lot of fun, and I’ll see you later.”
Trump spent the weekend at Mar-a-Lago before heading 200 miles north to the Daytona International Speedway. Just a week earlier, he attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
It was his first Daytona visit since 2020. Air Force One flew overhead as he arrived.
In 2020, Trump falsely accused Bubba Wallace of a “hoax” involving a noose in his garage. He criticized Wallace and NASCAR, slamming their Confederate flag ban. He even said Wallace should apologize.
Before the race, Trump posted a video of himself saluting during the National Anthem.
“It’s fantastic. It’s great for the country. Our country is doing well again, and we have spirit all over the world,” he told Fox Sports. “We brought it back, and it’s been less than four weeks.”