President Donald Trump took a tour of the track in his famous “Beast” presidential limo, leading the ceremonial pace lap to kick off the Daytona 500 as the crowd cheered.
That wasn’t the first way Trump wowed the crowd in the stands on Sunday. He also directed Air Force One to fly over the track and stands before landing nearby to offload the heavily armored limo for the pace lap.
Fans cheer as Air Force One comes into view prior to President Trump landing at the #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/mVE2oPb8gP
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 16, 2025
The Beast then rolled out onto the track:
The Beast and President Trump arrive at the Daytona 500!
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) February 16, 2025
So cool! pic.twitter.com/mVC8MuIjnx
As the limo motored around the track, the president delivered a radio message to the racers.
“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan, I’m a really big fan of you people,” he told the drivers. “How you do this, I don’t know, but I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people, and you’re great people and great Americans. Have a good day, have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”
President Trump addressing the 41 drivers in the #Daytona500 field over the radio: "This is your favorite
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 16, 2025
President. I'm a big fan. I'm really big fan of you people. How you do this, I don't know. But I just want you to be safe. You are talented people and a great people and… pic.twitter.com/gSvRRSrf6a
Trump also gave the starting command to kick off the first leg of the race:
President @realDonaldTrump gives the starting command at the 62nd Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/yDPx8inN4R
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 16, 2020
This is not his first time at the race. Trump attended the 500 in 2020 during his first term in office, too. But he was not the first president to attend.
The first sitting president to attend the Daytona 500 was George W. Bush in 2004. Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, attended in 1978, just before he took office as president. Thus far, no Democrats have attended the race.
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