Petty controversy: Donald Trump vs. the Indy 500
Donald Trump dramatically bows out as the pace car driver for this month's Indianapolis 500. Is he just too busy — or did the blustery billionaire cave to public pressure?
The controversy: Donald Trump has backed out of a key responsibility — driving the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 later this month. The Donald told Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials on Thursday that business obligations and his tentative presidential campaign had made it "impossible" for him to command a Chevrolet Camaro as planned. But is it that simple? The invitation to Trump had sparked "a groundswell" of protest, including a "Bump Trump" page on Facebook with more than 18,000 "Likes." A group of local Baptist ministers also felt Trump was unfit to grip a steering wheel, citing his "petulant, poisonous and racist remarks" regarding President Obama's birth certificate and school records.
The reaction: Does anyone "actually believe" that Trump's decision to pull out had "nothing to do with the mounting tide of opposition?" asks Lou Harry in the Indianapolis Business Journal. Of course not, and this is "certainly a victory for those who felt a polarizing, hyper-partisan, and arguably racist celebrity such as Donald Trump had no business participating in the Indy 500," says Curt Matlock at Daily Kos. OK, so The Donald "was a silly choice" to drive the pace car, but it's even worse that officials "got cold feet" and asked Trump to back out, says Kent Sterling at his blog. "His presence would have prompted a response equally positive and negative" — but at least it would have had people talking about the Indy 500.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published