Trump to wave green flag at D.C. Grand Prix, take ‘lap of honor' in The Beast

The useful part

President Donald Trump will wave the green flag to send racecars screaming through D.C. streets for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix this weekend – and he'll take a "lap of honor" in The Beast. Sean Duffy both will wave flags, Bud Denker, the chairman of the race, said in a video Duffy posted to X on Wednesday night.

How it works

• Looking forward to showcasing this event to the world," he said.
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• "Our president will be waving the green flag, so it's gonna be super, be so epic.
• Secretary Duffy will be up there to wave the checkered flag for the finish of the race," Denker said.
• Before the race begins, the president will do "a lap of honor around the course in The Beast," a White House official confirmed to NBC News.

What to take from it

First lady Melania Trump and other family members will be in attendance, and there will be flyovers, the official said. The president previously took ceremonial laps in The Beast, the heavily armored presidential limo, at the Daytona 500 in 2020 and 2025. Federal authorities will temporarily pause flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for a three-hour period Sunday.

Details worth keeping

Prix is bringing major road restrictions to D.C.