US President Donald Trump on Sunday attended the Daytona 500 which is a NASCAR Cup Series motor race, but more than his attendance, it was his mode of transport that gathered quite the chatter online and offline. Trump took his Air Force One to attend the sports event at the Daytona beach. NASCAR fans were thrilled to see the Air Force One flyover the area before Trump rode in the presidential limousine onto the Daytona International Speedway.
Air Force One took off from Palm Beach International Airport shortly after noon. The White House in a statement said that he was accompanied by his son Eric, grandson Luke, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum among others.
Air Force One at Daytona 500 – Fans and Critics Divided
For some, Air Force One flying over Daytona was nothing less than a heroic moment for Trump. A user , @BehizyTweets took to X and wrote, “We have the coolest president in American history. He actually told the Air Force One pilots to fly over the Daytona 500 crowd because he knew it’d be epic. This is how you make an entry.”
Another X user, David Pacansky with the hadle @DavePinFL, wrote, “There is no other president who could pull this off and not look like a douche. Trump’s a showman who can make something like this happen and it’s just as epic as the Air Force One flyover beforehand.”
While some were relishing in their fan moment, others were not so happy about the whole show. @CalltoActivism shared the disappointment and pointed out how American taxpayers’ money was being wasted. “Since we’re on the topic of government waste, Donald Trump’s joyride around the Daytona 500 cost American taxpayers around $5,000,000,” the tweet said. Giving further breakdown, the user wrote,
“Air Force One Costs: estimated $800,000 – $1,000,000. Presidential Motorcade & Transport: estimated $200,000 – $500,000, Secret Service & Security estimated $1 million – $2 million., FAA & Airspace Restrictions: estimated $100,000 – $300,000, Staffing & Logistical Support: estimated $200,000 – $500,000, Additional Emergency & Military Resources: estimated $100,000 – $500,000.
I think MAGA has lost the right to lecture on us about wasteful spending, don’t you?”
Here’s the video of the Air Force One flying over the Daytona beach:
This was Trump’s second visit to the Daytona 500. The last time he attended the event was in 2020. Trump was seen speaking to the drivers as he led them through several ceremonial laps. “This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan. I am a really big fan of you people,” Trump said, reported AP. Last weekend, Trump had made another historic appearance as the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.