Schiff attack on Trump’s DC IndyCar race backfires after driver points out contradiction
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.
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"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.
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"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."
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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."
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"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.
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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?"
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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.