Special Poll
President Trump made a dramatic entrance at the Daytona 500, taking laps around the speedway in his motorcade, known as “The Beast.” Before the race, he addressed the drivers from inside the track, offering words of encouragement and admiration for their skills.
“This is your favorite president,” Trump told the racers. “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.” He went on to praise them, saying, “You’re talented people and you’re great people, and great Americans. Have a good day, and have a lot of fun, and I’ll see you later.”
Trump traveled to Florida for the weekend, staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach before making the 200-mile trip north to Daytona International Speedway for Sunday’s race. His appearance at the event came just a week after attending the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
This was his first visit to the Daytona 500 since 2020, and as part of the spectacle, Air Force One flew over the track, adding to the excitement of the moment.
During his last appearance at Daytona, Trump made headlines for comments about NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, the only Black full-time driver in the sport. He accused Wallace of perpetuating a “hoax” after a noose was discovered in his garage stall, despite an investigation determining that the rope had been there long before Wallace was assigned that stall. Trump also criticized NASCAR for banning Confederate flags from its events, a move that was widely praised by civil rights advocates.