Racing at over 300 km/h in the Heart of Washington: A Show of Achievements?

[Anchor]

Racing cars sped through the heart of Washington, D.C., at speeds exceeding 300 km/h. The event, led by President Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, has drawn criticism for being a display of power.

Washington correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam has the report.

[Reporter]

Riding in the armored presidential limousine known as "The Beast," President Trump enters the heart of Washington, D.C., which has been transformed into a race track.

After personally waving a green flag to signal the start of the race,

[Fox Sports Broadcaster: Drivers roar past the Capitol and head into turn one. The Freedom 250 is underway.]

Twenty-five racing cars take off at speeds exceeding 300 km/h.

This marks the first-ever IndyCar Series race held in Washington as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

The course was designed as a 1.7-mile, 2.7-kilometer track looping around major Washington landmarks such as the White House and the U.S. Capitol. True to the "250th" anniversary theme, the cars were set to complete 147 laps, totaling 250 miles.

Prior to the race, Trump and his wife, Melania, took part in an honorary lap, followed by celebratory flyovers by Air Force One and a B-2 bomber.

[Tommy / Spectator: It was very, very patriotic. It was probably the most patriotic event I've ever been to.]

Reports indicate that the event costs, amounting to approximately 40 billion won, were covered by Roger Penske, a friend of Trump and the owner of IndyCar, who organized the event.

Major corporations such as SpaceX and Amazon also participated as sponsors, sparking controversy over potential conflicts of interest as regulated companies supported a government-led event.

Additionally, 220 manhole covers were welded shut for safe driving, and the nearby National Gallery of Art had to take precautionary measures to protect its collections from vibrations.

In June, Trump hosted a mixed martial arts match and a large fireworks show at the White House to celebrate his 80th birthday.

The Associated Press evaluated that through the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, Trump sought to grandly showcase his achievements, which ultimately culminated in a display of horsepower.

(Photo: Park Eun-ha | Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol | Design: Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.