Trump shares AI-generated video backing IndyCar race on National Mall

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has drawn attention on social media with an AI‑generated video promoting a proposed IndyCar race in the capital tied to the America250 celebration.

The video, shared on Trump’s Truth Social account on Friday, January 23, depicts imagined scenes of an IndyCar race set against iconic landmarks in the capital. 

Trump posts AI video promoting IndyCar event

Trump shared a 47-second AI-generated video depicting fans gathered along the National Mall as IndyCar drivers race through the streets of Washington, DC. The video shows Trump arriving in Marine One and waving the green flag to start the race.

The video also featured digitally rendered images of major Washington landmarks including the US Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial woven into the race setting, though it remains unclear whether any proposed route or track has received official approval.

The video appears to depict US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy the checkered flag as a car modeled after IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden, complete with his likeness in the cockpit, crosses the finish line to win the race.

The Department of Transportation has been leading the push for this race, describing the proposed street Grand Prix as an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate the nation’s racing heritage and to showcase the beauty of the National Mall while also generating tourism revenue.

Organizers have targeted August 21 for the proposed event, which would fill a gap in the IndyCar schedule ahead of the 'Snap-On Milwaukee' weekend set for August 29–30. Motorsport calendars show no traditional IndyCar race scheduled for that weekend, positioning the event as a potential one-off addition to the 2026 season.

Trump backed IndyCar race celebrates motorsport heritage

Officials have said that, if approved, the race would serve as a signature event highlighting American motorsport culture while showcasing the nation’s historic capital.

"The Trump Administration is determined to make DC great again, and this race is another example of that commitment. We’ll keep working with our partners in Congress to outline the positive impacts it will have on the District and correct the record," a Department of Transportation spokesperson said.

However, the proposal faces challenges, including federal regulations that prohibit advertising on Capitol grounds—a potential complication for IndyCar vehicles, which typically carry sponsor branding. How that issue would be addressed remains unclear.

House leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been notified of the plans, though the proposal still requires legislative approval.

If given the green light, the race would mark the second major sporting event in the nation’s capital as part of America250, alongside a UFC event scheduled for June 14, Trump’s 80th birthday at the White House.

UFC CEO and President Dana White brushed off concerns that the planned White House fight card marking America’s 250th anniversary would be “too political,” saying that “just about everybody on the roster” wants to compete.