{"id":1165332,"date":"2026-08-23T19:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T19:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1165332\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T19:45:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T19:45:22","slug":"trumps-close-aide-natalie-harp-son-eric-and-maga-inner-circle-join-president-and-melania-for-indycar-race-in-dc-freedom-250-grand-prix-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1165332\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s close aide Natalie Harp, son Eric and MAGA inner circle join president and Melania for IndyCar race in DC: Freedom 250 Grand Prix Live"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Drivers prepare to race through the Capitol as IndyCar takes over DCYour support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iOIawn\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 eRQajs\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong>Read more<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump&#8217;s MAGA inner circle \u2014 including his son Eric and his close aide Natalie Harp \u2014 gathered in the heart of Washington Sunday to watch a first-of-its-kind IndyCar race roar to life around the capitol.<\/p>\n<p>Trump waved the green flag to start the 147-lap race shortly after 1 p.m. He was cheered on by First Lady Melania Trump \u2014 a rare public outing for the couple, which also saw them drive the circuit in the presidential motorcade.<\/p>\n<p>Other MAGA allies, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and House Speaker Mike Johnson, were spotted at the grid.<\/p>\n<p>Harp, who has been the subject of intense public scrutiny over her close relationship with the president, was seen with his son, Eric.<\/p>\n<p>The race is part of the official celebrations to mark America&#8217;s 250th Anniversary and turned out &#8220;much bigger than we ever thought possible,&#8221; Trump told Fox News earlier Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Some 25 drivers, including series champion Alex Palou and Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, are taking part in the race, which is 250 miles, with cars reaching speeds of 180mph.<\/p>\n<p>The race caps off America\u2019s 250 celebrations, which have also included a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/ufc-fight-white-house-trump-results-b2995959.html\">UFC cage match<\/a> at the White House and a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/great-american-state-fair-closing-b3012794.html\">Great American State Fair<\/a> in the capital.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407501\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>&#8216;It&#8217;s an inredible day,&#8217; First Lady Melania Trump says of Freedom 250 Grand Prix<\/p>\n<p>First Lady Melania Trump attended the Freedom 250 Grand Prix alongside her husband, President Donald Trump, on Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible day,\u201d she told Fox News. \u201cI think everybody did an amazing job. D.C., IndyCar and Fox Corporation \u2014 and it is wonderful to have them here.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 19:45<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407508\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>David Malukas out after crashing into wall <\/p>\n<p>David Malukas was removed from the race after taking a big hit from Sting Ray Robb and crashing into the wall. <\/p>\n<p>The accident took place during the 36th lap, according to Fox Sports. <\/p>\n<p>Malukas was evaluated at the medical center and released.<\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 19:18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407498\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>Kirkwood holds lead on lap 25 <\/p>\n<p>Driver Kyle Kirkwood was in the lead, pacing ahead of series champion Alex Palou on lap 25. <\/p>\n<p>Kirkwood held steady in first for the 25th lap, which took place just before 2 p.m. Eastern. <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 19:01<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407496\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>Trump and Melania pictured alongside IndyCar drivers <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 18:59<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407486\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>Eric Trump seen chatting with Natalie Harp ahead of race <\/p>\n<p>Video shared online showed President Donald Trump\u2019s son, Eric Trump, chatting with the president\u2019s close aide, Natalie Harp, ahead of the race. <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 18:41<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407470\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>President Donald Trump waves green flag to start race<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump waved the green flag to kick off the historic race just before 1:20 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n<p>The flag was delivered to Trump by Medal of Honor recipients Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Williams and Col. Paris Davis.<\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 18:22<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407445\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>President and First Lady greet drivers <\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump. and First Lady Melania Trump were seen greeting drivers ahead of the IndyCar race Sunday. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2291707350...jpeg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/>(Getty)<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2291709225...jpeg\"  loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/>(Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 17:56<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407423\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>Officials expect about 140,000 attendees at IndyCar race<\/p>\n<p>Washington, D.C., officials say they expect approximately 140,000 spectators at the race.<\/p>\n<p>The spectacle is set to begin just after 1 p.m. with President Donald Trump waving a green flag. <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 17:50<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407434\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lap around the course in &#8216;The Beast&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump rode along the Freedom 250 track before the race Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>The couple took a lap in \u201cThe Beast\u201d before the race began. <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 17:36<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#post-2407432\" class=\"sc-vxbko8-1 divZUB\"><\/a>Trump says IndyCar had been trying to have race in D.C. for 20 years <\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump said that IndyCar owner Roger Penske had been trying to get a race in Washington, D.C., for over 20 years. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cRoger told me they\u2019d been trying to do it for 20 years and \u2014 I think he said he was down 211 times \u2014 to try and get it done, but when he came to see Trump it got done in 15 minutes,\u201d Trump told Fox News on Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis turned out to be much bigger than we ever thought possible. They actually closed the bridges because so many people wanted to come,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<p>Isabel Keane23 August 2026 17:35<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Drivers prepare to race through the Capitol as IndyCar takes over DCYour support helps us to tell the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1165333,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5],"tags":[17943,12,17944,26],"class_list":["post-1165332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","tag-bestof","tag-news","tag-topix","tag-world"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/117146547628342733","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1165332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165332\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1165333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1165332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1165332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1165332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}