Trump makes pit stop at F1’s Miami Grand Prix during weekend break in hush money case

Former President Donald Trump — and many of the world’s top brass that includes Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and LeBron James — made an appearance Sunday afternoon at Formula 1’s Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.

The 2024 presidential hopeful’s arrival to the Miami International Autodrome, a temporary track set up for the F1 race at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, came as he’s being tried in New York for allegedly paying an adult film actress to keep her quiet before the 2016 election. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

READ MORE: Records, not hush money, key to Trump charges. Making case in court poses challenges

While making an appearance at the star-studded event, the former president pulled up to the McLaren racing garage, toured the facility and spoke with McLaren CEO Zak Brown. The British luxury car manufacturer released a statement about Trump’s visit Sunday evening.

“McLaren is a non-political organisation however we recognise and respect the office of President of the United States so when the request was made to visit our garage on race day we accepted alongside the president of the FIA and the CEO’s of Liberty Media and Formula 1,” the statement said, according to Newsweek. “We were honoured that McLaren Racing was chosen as the representative of F1 which gave us the opportunity to showcase the world class engineering that we bring to motorsport.”

Trump was in Palm Beach this weekend to attend a retreat with a handful of vice presidential contenders. The annual event, organized by the Republican National Committee, is historically attended by well-heeled donors and high-profile GOP officials, according to CNBC. Trump on Saturday also hosted a private luncheon at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

READ MORE: Trump to host potential vice presidential candidates at Florida retreat. Who is going?

Here’s a look at Trump’s pit stop at the South Florida race.

Former President Donald Trump is seen at the starting grid ahead of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Matias J. Ocner/mocner@miamiherald.com
Former President Donald Trump is seen at the starting grid ahead of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Matias J. Ocner/mocner@miamiherald.com
Former President Donald Trump is escorted by secret service ahead of Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. D.A. Varela/dvarela@miamiherald.com
Former President Donald Trump is escorted by secret service ahead of Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. D.A. Varela/dvarela@miamiherald.com