Make D.C. Great Again: Trump Backs Historic IndyCar Race on Capitol Grounds

Paul Riverbank, 1/24/2026An unprecedented IndyCar race on Washington’s National Mall is stirring debate—blending American spectacle with political hurdles, as Congress weighs a historic display of speed and national pride for the America250 celebration.

Rumors have swirled for weeks, but as federal agencies and D.C. officials quietly shuttle memos and field calls, the outlines are sharpening. The vision isn’t subtle. Picture this: high-powered machines barreling down Pennsylvania Avenue, engines echoing off marble facades, the Capitol dome blinking in their rearview. Officials tout it as a tribute to “America’s racing tradition,” an economic stimulus, and—let’s be clear—a publicity grab tailor-made for the national spotlight.

Those pitching the plan haven’t shied away from grand language. According to one Department of Transportation spokesperson, this isn’t just a race; it’s “an unprecedented opportunity” to show off the Mall and rake in tourism dollars. Behind such bullish optimism sits a labyrinth not easily navigated. Federal law forbids advertising on Capitol grounds, for starters—those IndyCars, neon patches of sponsor logos and all, would need to skirt a rule not built for modern motorsport. The track itself presents another puzzle. Various renderings, some crafted with the digital flourish of AI, imagine cars zipping past touchstones like the Lincoln Memorial or the reflecting pool. Whether that vision passes muster with planners—or security officials—remains a large, open question.

The organizers are eyeing late August, specifically Friday the 21st, for the race, a date that conveniently fits between established IndyCar stops in Portland and Milwaukee. If coincidence played a part, no one’s admitting it. The intention is to grab the national TV audience and offer D.C. something fresh—something unprecedented. The snag, as always, is Congress.

A plan of this scale can’t skate past lawmakers. The House and Senate leadership—Johnson, Jeffries, Thune, Schumer, to name a few—have all received briefings. What they make of it remains behind closed doors. As of now, there’s been no public positioning, no parade of statements for or against. In a year colored by electoral calculations and institutional inertia, silence can carry its own weight.

Industry insiders, for their part, seem torn. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles has acknowledged the appeal, labeling the concept both “complicated” and a “long shot.” His candor is telling; while the benefits for the racing series are obvious, from TV ratings to nationwide buzz, the logistical and regulatory headaches abound. Still, the lure of a marquee event, right in America’s front yard, refuses to die quietly.

If the deal comes together, city officials expect a windfall—not just in tourism receipts but with the capital’s image. There’s precedent here: sports as civic theater. The White House has already slotted a UFC fight date for June, coinciding with former President Trump’s 80th birthday. Critics have panned that event for its political undertones, but if history teaches us anything, presidents love a good spectacle. Think of Reagan’s Olympics, or Obama’s March Madness brackets—sports as national narrative, with the Commander-in-Chief in the wings.

It’s impossible to separate the current push from broader America250 programming: headline-making events aimed at re-centering patriotism, attracting crowds, and showing the world a cultural side of American power. The symbolism would be impossible to ignore—IndyCars, roaring between the monuments, American flags snapping in their wake. Yet, as summer ticks ever closer, practical matters threaten to overshadow grand designs. Heavy machinery would need to transform city streets into a circuit, law enforcement would have to orchestrate security on a scale that dwarfs past parades, and, perhaps most dauntingly, Congress would need to say “yes.”

Those closest to the talks swear the momentum is real, if fragile. The Transportation Department’s comments—phrased with the old “make D.C. great again” nod—drive home how much weight this administration is placing on high-visibility gestures. But the specifics remain maddeningly elusive: neither IndyCar nor the White House will confirm the race has cleared any final hurdles.

For now, we’re in a holding pattern—an idea alive in back rooms and committee meetings, murmured over in city hall corridors. Should it emerge into daylight, and should all the moving parts fall improbably into place, the sight would be unforgettable: a blur of speed beneath the watchful eyes of Lincoln and Jefferson, melding pageantry and horsepower for a fleeting, historic moment. Until then, Washington waits.

As plans for America’s 250th birthday edge closer, something out of the ordinary is taking shape inside the Beltway—quite literally. The Trump administration, hungry for spectacle during a landmark year, has floated an idea that’s equal parts audacious and divisive: an IndyCar race snaking through the heart of Washington, D.C.Rumors have swirled for weeks, but as federal agencies and D.C. officials quietly shuttle memos and field calls, the outlines are sharpening. The vision isn’t subtle. Picture this: high-powered machines barreling down Pennsylvania Avenue, engines echoing off marble facades, the Capitol dome blinking in their rearview. Officials tout it as a tribute to “America’s racing tradition,” an economic stimulus, and—let’s be clear—a publicity grab tailor-made for the national spotlight.Those pitching the plan haven’t shied away from grand language. According to one Department of Transportation spokesperson, this isn’t just a race; it’s “an unprecedented opportunity” to show off the Mall and rake in tourism dollars. Behind such bullish optimism sits a labyrinth not easily navigated. Federal law forbids advertising on Capitol grounds, for starters—those IndyCars, neon patches of sponsor logos and all, would need to skirt a rule not built for modern motorsport. The track itself presents another puzzle. Various renderings, some crafted with the digital flourish of AI, imagine cars zipping past touchstones like the Lincoln Memorial or the reflecting pool. Whether that vision passes muster with planners—or security officials—remains a large, open question.The organizers are eyeing late August, specifically Friday the 21st, for the race, a date that conveniently fits between established IndyCar stops in Portland and Milwaukee. If coincidence played a part, no one’s admitting it. The intention is to grab the national TV audience and offer D.C. something fresh—something unprecedented. The snag, as always, is Congress.A plan of this scale can’t skate past lawmakers. The House and Senate leadership—Johnson, Jeffries, Thune, Schumer, to name a few—have all received briefings. What they make of it remains behind closed doors. As of now, there’s been no public positioning, no parade of statements for or against. In a year colored by electoral calculations and institutional inertia, silence can carry its own weight.Industry insiders, for their part, seem torn. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles has acknowledged the appeal, labeling the concept both “complicated” and a “long shot.” His candor is telling; while the benefits for the racing series are obvious, from TV ratings to nationwide buzz, the logistical and regulatory headaches abound. Still, the lure of a marquee event, right in America’s front yard, refuses to die quietly.If the deal comes together, city officials expect a windfall—not just in tourism receipts but with the capital’s image. There’s precedent here: sports as civic theater. The White House has already slotted a UFC fight date for June, coinciding with former President Trump’s 80th birthday. Critics have panned that event for its political undertones, but if history teaches us anything, presidents love a good spectacle. Think of Reagan’s Olympics, or Obama’s March Madness brackets—sports as national narrative, with the Commander-in-Chief in the wings.It’s impossible to separate the current push from broader America250 programming: headline-making events aimed at re-centering patriotism, attracting crowds, and showing the world a cultural side of American power. The symbolism would be impossible to ignore—IndyCars, roaring between the monuments, American flags snapping in their wake. Yet, as summer ticks ever closer, practical matters threaten to overshadow grand designs. Heavy machinery would need to transform city streets into a circuit, law enforcement would have to orchestrate security on a scale that dwarfs past parades, and, perhaps most dauntingly, Congress would need to say “yes.”Those closest to the talks swear the momentum is real, if fragile. The Transportation Department’s comments—phrased with the old “make D.C. great again” nod—drive home how much weight this administration is placing on high-visibility gestures. But the specifics remain maddeningly elusive: neither IndyCar nor the White House will confirm the race has cleared any final hurdles.For now, we’re in a holding pattern—an idea alive in back rooms and committee meetings, murmured over in city hall corridors. Should it emerge into daylight, and should all the moving parts fall improbably into place, the sight would be unforgettable: a blur of speed beneath the watchful eyes of Lincoln and Jefferson, melding pageantry and horsepower for a fleeting, historic moment. Until then, Washington waits.