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According to the White House the president will arrive at the Daytona International Speedway just before the green flag
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Donald Trump drove laps of the Daytona International Speedway track in his presidential limo “The Beast” on Sunday, as the 2025 NASCAR season began in Florida.
The president arrived for world-famous Daytona 500 race just before the green flag, and will return to Mar-a-Lago this afternoon. In 2020, he acted as grand marshal, waving the flag to start the race.
It comes after Trump raised eyebrows on Saturday after he appeared to be make reference to the dictatorial Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in an online post. “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” the president wrote on Truth Social, a quote which is often attributed to the European conquerer.
Several of Trump’s early executive orders and budget-slashing with Elon Musk‘s new Department of Government Efficiency have been called into court by a string of lawsuits.
The pair are reportedly planning to accelerate their purge of America’s federal bureaucracy, with thousands of federal works laid off in the past week, including more than 300 staffers at the National Nuclear Security Administration – which oversees the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile.
NBC later reported that the NNSA was struggling the staffers because it did not have new contact information for them.
Donald Trump has declared an emergency in the state of Kentucky, after extreme bad weather caused at least nine deaths.
In response to Governor Andy Beshear’s request, the president granted assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency – which he has previously suggested he intends to shut down.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides beginning on February 14, 2025, and continuing,” a statement from the White House read.
It added: “FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.”
The Trump administration fired 200 workers at FEMA on Friday.
The West Virginia House of Delegates has introduced a bill that would see the state’s highest peak renamed “Trump Mountain” following the president’s death.
Resolution 33, introduced on Feb 14, proposes to rename Spruce Knob, in honor of Trump’s accomplishments.
This change would not happen immediately however, but five years after the death of the president “as a way to honor his enduring influence and connection to the state of West Virginia.”
“Whereas, The people of West Virginia, in overwhelming support, voted for Donald J. Trump in every county during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, reflecting a shared commitment to the values of freedom, economic prosperity, and patriotism,” the bill states.
Joining the president in Florida for the Daytona 500 are:
Ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500, Donald Trump released a statement in which he hailed the iconic race as “bringing together people from all walks of life.”
“Today, I look forward to joining tens of thousands of American Patriots in Daytona Beach, Florida, for the ‘Great American Race’ – the legendary Daytona 500 – and the official start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series,” he said.
“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation.
“When the engines start or the checkered flag waves, and all 500 thrilling miles in between, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians stand ready to defend cherished traditions like this—and for that, we are truly thankful.
“Melania and I send our best wishes for a safe and successful race. May God bless our Armed Forces, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”
Donald Trump is currently making his way across Florida for the start of the Daytona 500, marking the start of the 2025 NASCAR season.
Sunday’s race at the Daytona International Speedway will begin at 1.30 p.m., and is being broadcast on Fox.
According to the president’s schedule, provided by the White House, Trump is supposed to arrive at around 1.10 p.m. to see the Green Flag.
He will leave around two hours later at 3.05 p.m., according to his schedule.
In 2020, Trump started the race, serving as the grand marshal. The presidential limo also joined the other pace cars and safety vehicles on the track and led the 40-car field through a pre-race lap.
Before becoming president, Trump made at least three other appearances at Daytona 500 – in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
The National Nuclear Security Administration is reportedly struggling to rehire hundreds of staff members that were mistakenly fired because it does not have contact information for them.
The U.S. nuclear watchdog has been attempting to notify some employees who had been let go that they are now due to be reinstated but do not have new contact information.
NBC reported that an email sent to employees at the NNSA on Friday, officials wrote: “The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel.”
The individuals were among around 300 who had been fired on Thursday and lost access to their federal government email accounts.
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