President Donald Trump knows a thing or two about staying in the conversation.
From the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff games to the Daytona 500 and everything in between, the president is no stranger to big sporting events. So when the ‘greatest day in motorsports’ is on the calendar, it begs the question, will Trump be in attendance?
Options are aplenty on this Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.
There’s the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1, the Coca-Cola 600 in NASCAR and, of course, the Indy 500 in IndyCar.
After attending the Coca-Cola 600 in 2024 and the Daytona 500 in 2025, it became a question whether the president would make the trek to Indianapolis to check out the ‘greatest spectacle in racing’ at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 109th Indianapolis 500.
Will Trump be in attendance at Indy this year? Here is your answer.
Is Donald Trump going to 2025 Indy 500?
Trump will not be at the Indianapolis 500 in 2025.
The president was invited by IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske during a visit to the White House on April 9. While there is always a possibility of a surprise visit or last-minute change when it comes to Trump, the president appears ready to skip the event this year.
News of Trump opting to not attend the event was first reported by Politico’s Adam Wren. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, the speedway was of the same understanding of the decision.
Has POTUS ever attended Indy 500?
No sitting President of the United States has ever attended the Indianapolis 500.
Several former presidents, however, attended the legendary race after their time in the White House. Gerald Ford was the first former president to attend when he was at the track in 1979. In 2003, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton both attended on race day.
On the other hand, presidents have been at race day prior to their election. Harry Truman attended the Indy 500 in the late 1930s before he was elected, and Trump actually attended the 2002 edition of the race.
In 2011, Trump was named the pace car driver for the 100th Indy 500, but it came during controversial statements he made regarding then-President Barack Obama’s citizenship and his possible run in the 2012 election. After backlash of Trump’s selection for the centennial edition of the race, Trump backed out of his position and was replaced by four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt.