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Just a week after attending the Super Bowl, President Donald Trump made an appearance at another great American sporting event, the 2025 Daytona 500.
The 47th president arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida, a little after 1 p.m. ET and at Daytona International Speedway shortly after as some drivers and team owners awaited Trump’s arrival. The President took a lap around the 2.5-mile track and received loud cheers when he was shown as the national anthem neared its conclusion.
He came down to pit road to meet race teams and notable NASCAR legends, including ‘The King’ Richard Petty, and spoke to Fox Sports’ Jamie Little before heading back to the presidential limo and leading the drivers onto the track for pace laps ahead of the start of Sunday’s race.
This isn’t Trump’s first time at the Daytona 500 either, nor is it his first time as serving president. In 2020, Trump made his way down to Florida for the event, and even served as the race’s grand marshal and gave drivers the ceremonial command to ‘Start your engines’ and pacing the field.
The magnitude of Trump’s first appearance is tough to match, but that doesn’t mean his appearance today was any less memorable. Here are pictures and video from the president’s appearance in Daytona.
WATCH: President Trump at 2025 Daytona 500
Is Trump the first sitting President to grand marshal the Daytona 500?
No. He was the first to lead the pace car ahead of the race though.
Other presidents who have served as the grand marshal for the race include:
- George H. W. Bush (1978) – prior to his presidency
- George W. Bush (2004)
Jimmy Carter was arguably the biggest friend of NASCAR among presidents. As Georgia’s governor, Carter hosted three dinners for NASCAR drivers, owners, officials, and media between 1971 and 1975. He also waved the green flag for a NASCAR Cup Series race at the Atlanta International Raceway on April 4, 1971.
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