President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States has secured $19.2 trillion in investment commitments under his administration, using the launch of a major motorsports event in Washington to argue that the country is experiencing an unprecedented economic resurgence.
Speaking at the White House during the unveiling of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, Trump said the US was attracting record levels of global investment while regaining international influence. "The country is doing incredibly well. We've never done this well.
We're respected all over the world now, and respected like never before," Trump said. "I was telling Roger before. We have 19.2 trillion dollars being invested in the United States of America, by other people and countries. No country in the world has ever had anything like that, and plants and factories and everything."
Trump did not provide details of the figure during his remarks, but said the investments were flowing into manufacturing and industrial projects across the country. "There's never been any country that's as hot as we are right now," he said. The President also linked the investment narrative to his administration's national security agenda.
"In addition to that, we have the strongest military," Trump said. "So people around, they're not pushing us around. We're pushing them around." The remarks came as Trump announced the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a two-day IndyCar street race that will be held in Washington on August 22 and 23 as part of the America 250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
He described the race as "one of the most unforgettable racing events the world has ever seen" and said it would showcase American engineering, innovation and patriotism. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump's broader message, saying the event reflected both America's industrial heritage and its future.
"When you think about America 250, you also think about cars. And when you think about cars, you do think about freedom. It all goes together," Duffy said. He credited Trump with personally ensuring the event proceeded after organisers encountered obstacles.
"It was one phone call, and the President said, 'Done. We're going to celebrate America 250 with an IndyCar race for the first time in the US Capitol,'" Duffy said. Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation, said more than 250,000 people had already registered interest in attending the free event.
"We think about the Indy 500 as an iconic race, but this is going to move right up there next to it," Penske said. Trump has consistently argued that tariffs, deregulation and tax incentives are encouraging companies to expand manufacturing and production in the United States.
His administration has repeatedly highlighted investment announcements by domestic and foreign companies as evidence that its economic policies are strengthening American industry.