President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited Daytona 500 NASCAR race in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2020. Will they be back for 2026?
As of Feb. 13, 2026, or Friday the 13th, it was not known whether the Trumps would make an appearance at the Great American Race in their home state. The president did, however, attend the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2025.
Some members of the first family accompanied him to the track.
The couple’s previous visits include the signature NASCAR races in February 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 when they were dating and later engaged. (Donald and Melania Trump married Jan. 22, 2005.) In February 2020, during his first presidential term, Donald Trump was the Grand Marshal for the 62nd annual Daytona 500. It was months before the 2020 presidential election, in which he lost to President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump typically visits his private club and primary residence, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, every Presidents’ Day weekend, which coincides with the Daytona 500. The Palm Beach Post, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, reported Donald Trump will be back in Florida this week. His February 2025 return to Daytona International Speedway marked his second as commander-in-chief, when he was sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S. on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025.
Some highlights and things to know from Donald and Melania Trump’s previous trips to the Daytona 500:
- When he brought his date, then-girlfriend and model Melania Knavs (also known by her professional modeling name Melania Knauss) to “race day” 2000
- In February 2020, Donald and Melania Trump returned as president and first lady, with him giving the command for drivers to “start their engines” as Grand Marshal. His presidential motorcade passed the grandstands as he led the drivers around the track before the NASCAR Daytona 500 race, and his presidential limousine − the Beast − did a pace lap. His car also drove on “the apron” of the track. Melania Trump wore a black flared halter dress by Dior with tiny white embellishments and a wide white trim at the waist.
- In February 2020, Donald Trump Jr. brought his then-girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, former Fox News host and Trump ally, to the Daytona 500. Donald Trump Jr. acted like a Trump fan himself, getting photos and video of his father being greeted by Trump fans at Daytona International Airport, which is next door to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach.
- In February 2025, Donald Trump attended the Daytona 500 accompanied by his son Eric Trump, his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump, and their children, Luke and Carolina Trump.
- The February 2025 visit to Daytona International Speedway followed Donald Trump’s history-making appearance at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family attended the Super Bowl with him including Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and members of their respective families. In February 2026, the 79-year-old Donald Trump skipped Super Bowl LX in California (once again held a week before the Daytona 500) to attend his Super Bowl watch party at Trump National Golf in Palm Beach County, Florida. The only Trump family member in attendance at the Super Bowl watch party, news reports show, was his 81-year-old father-in-law, Viktor Knavs, Melania’s dad and Barron Trump’s grandfather.
Photos of Donald and Melania Trump at the Daytona 500 in Florida
See photos below of Donald and Melania Trump at the Daytona 500 NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, over the years.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
