Sen. Adam Schiff’s latest attack on President Donald Trump was challenged by an IndyCar veteran who pushed back on the California Democrat’s charge that the commander-in-chief was wasting taxpayer funds for his own “self-aggrandizing.”
Schiff criticized Trump for ordering the Washington race by executive order and accused the president of using the motorsports “spectacle” to distract Americans from higher costs and policy failures.
“While you struggle with the cost of gas, Trump offers you the spectacle of an IndyCar race hoping you will not notice,” Schiff said Sunday.
START YOUR ENGINES: HERE IS YOUR CRASH COURSE ON THE INDYCAR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX WEEKEND
“More taxpayer money spent on his self-aggrandizing distractions. And you get higher taxes and higher costs,” he added, although major automotive firm Penske said it bankrolled the event.
Schiff posted the criticism on X alongside video of Trump waving the green flag as FOX Sports announcer Leigh Diffey got the race underway.
Race fans and other critics lambasted Schiff’s comments, including IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who reminded the California Democrat that the race was privately funded and argued it benefited government coffers because thousands of spectators traveled to Washington and spent money.
“No, no, Adam. He wanted you to notice and bask in the pride of being American, watch great racing and patriotism on display,” Rahal responded on X.
DRIVERS JOSEF NEWGARDEN AND KYLE KIRKWOOD TALK INDYCAR’S ‘ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME’ FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX
“Not only that, this was privately funded, not government although it drove thousands of folks to the DC area that have never been. That’s economic impact for you,” said Rahal, who finished 13th in the event. His father, Bobby Rahal, is a well-known motorsports driver and executive.
Rahal also argued that the event brought visitors to Washington who might not otherwise have seen the nation’s capital.
“And guess what, hundreds of thousands of Americans, blue & red, as well as fans from all over the world loved the Freedom250.”
“What kind of loser posts this?” added Breitbart editor Joel Pollak. “People had fun.”
KYLE KIRKWOOD HANGS ON TO WIN FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX IN WASHINGTON
As Rahal noted, Penske Corporation picked up most of the race tab. The automotive and logistics company, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Reading, Pennsylvania, is led by Roger Penske, who also owns the Team Penske racing organization with drivers in NASCAR and IndyCar.
When Washington’s NBC affiliate interviewed Penske President Bud Denker at the track and asked who was paying for the Freedom250, Denker responded: “We are.”
TRUMP SHOWCASES RAW AMERICAN MUSCLE IN PREVIEW OF FIRST-OF-ITS KIND AMERICA 250 GRAND PRIX
“When I say vast, the only part we’re not paying is, we’re raising some revenue by having sponsors with the suites I’m building [along the course],” Denker told the outlet, adding it was not intended to be a “break-even” venture.
Penske did not cover every expense. Security was handled by local and federal law enforcement, including through federal funding provided to Washington for major events, according to the NBC station.
RACER STING RAY ROBB GEARS UP FOR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX: ‘THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INDYCAR EVENT’
The White House also fired back at Schiff, saying the Democrat put his personal animus ahead of the American people.
“It’s a complete disgrace that Pencil-Neck Adam Schiff is willing to trash the United States of America during its historic 250th birthday celebrations simply because he hates President Trump,” said White House spokesman Davis Ingle.
“The great people of California deserve better,” Ingle said.
Former electronics executive Sam Antar also responded to the senator, saying the lawmaker “apparently didn’t bother checking who actually paid for the race before blaming Trump for ‘more taxpayer money spent’.”
“Schiff saw Trump, started typing, and skipped the part where you check the facts first. That’s how you end up volunteering for your own Community Note,” Antar said.
Conservative commentator “Bad Hombre” replied by posting an image of then-President Joe Biden posing with attendees at a White House lawn gala featuring transgender and LGBT activists.
“The race was privately funded by Penske/IndyCar, pencil neck,” Hombre said.
“But now that we’re on the topic of taxpayer-funded events, why were you cool with forcing taxpayers to spend $1.3 million on this?”
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
Trump has shown support for American motorsports, praising his friendship with Penske, becoming the first president since Ronald Reagan to attend a Daytona 500 and hosting several NASCAR drivers and the circuit’s former CEO, Brian France, at campaign rallies.
Fox News Digital reached out to Rahal and Schiff for further comment.
Schiff attack on Trump’s DC IndyCar race backfires after driver points out contradiction 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-24 20:50:48
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
