A national broadcast turned into a lightning rod for controversy when former racing star Danica Patrick used her commentator platform to heap praise on President Donald Trump, drawing swift and fierce backlash from viewers across social media.
The moment unfolded during Fox’s coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a street race staged through the heart of Washington, D.C. Patrick, hired by the network as a race analyst, used her airtime to credit a handful of powerful figures for making the event possible.
Among those she singled out was Trump, a candidate she has personally voted for in past elections.
“Between the vision of (FOX CEO) Eric Shanks and (Penske Corporation President) Bud Denker, with the help of, of course, Secretary [of Transportation Sean] Duffy and President Donald Trump with that executive order, I think it really embodies what it is to live in America, land of the free, and anything is possible,” Patrick told viewers.
She went further, framing the race’s rapid construction as a symbol of national pride tied to America’s semiquincentennial.
“That this race was gone from concept to reality as quickly as it was, and as well as it’s been done, I think that is the perfect embodiment and celebration of 250 years of this country,” Patrick said.
The remarks landed poorly with a segment of the racing fanbase already skeptical of Patrick’s broadcasting résumé.
The former IndyCar and NASCAR driver has drawn recurring criticism over her years calling NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One events.
X quickly filled with angry reactions. “To watch Danica Patrick and the whole Fox crew verbally felate [sic] Trump ,is nauseating,” one user wrote.
A separate post mocked the broadcast team’s composition entirely, stating, “Of course @IndyCarOnFOX brings out the small guns (Chris Myers and Danica Patrick) today.”
Others were blunter still. “Oh boy, that idiot Danica Patrick and the others are going to make this unwatchable,” read one reaction.
A different user questioned why Patrick was chosen over more decorated competitors, writing, “Nothing worse about an Indy Car broadcast than hearing Danica Patrick. So many more well accomplished, deserving drivers with higher accolades, and this is who they chose to fill in that slot.”
One post tied Patrick’s on-air comments to her broader media presence, stating, “Danica Patrick on TV showing a lack of understanding about American history while she does a podcast where she discusses right wing conspiracy theories. Absolute f***ing clown and a joke on the international motorsports community.”
Another commenter referenced the unrelated controversy surrounding White House staffer Natalie Harp, writing, “Can someone tell @DanicaPatrick that the role of side chick for @POTUS is already filled. This race just feels dirty and corrupt.”
A final critic ranked Patrick against another polarizing sports personality, posting, “I’m a girls girl and I hate Pat McAfee, but good lawd does Danica Patrick give that man a run for his money as worst sports commentator ever.”
The Freedom 250 backlash arrived just months after Patrick suffered a separate professional blow, when Formula 1 broadcaster Sky Sports dropped her from its lineup ahead of the 2026 season opener in March.
Patrick had spent five seasons with the UK network, joining its coverage during the United States Grand Prix back in October 2021.
When Sky Sports unveiled its 2026 roster of hosts and analysts on a Wednesday announcement, her name was nowhere to be found.
Patrick responded to her exit on Instagram, framing it as a decision she initiated rather than one made for her.
“I called after the last race in 2025 and said it was time for me to move on and I was so grateful for the opportunity and experience I was given!” she wrote.
She reflected fondly on her tenure covering the sport’s global rise.
“The sky team was so much fun (thank you all), I saw so many amazing new race tracks and cities, and got to be part of a huge boom in F1!” Patrick wrote, adding that her run began “From my first @skysportsf1 race in Austin to my last 5 years later… I had such a blast!”
Despite no longer working the broadcasts, Patrick indicated she would remain an avid viewer. “….and now due to my deep exposure to F1, I will be glued to my tv for the season starting this weekend, like every other fan!” she wrote.
Patrick’s political commentary at the Freedom 250 is consistent with a broader shift observed in recent years, as she has increasingly aligned herself publicly with Trump and the MAGA movement, a pattern that has repeatedly split audience reaction to her broadcasts.
That alignment extended to her praise of Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s former press secretary, after Leavitt announced her departure from the White House.
Patrick called her an “absolute legend” in a story posted to Instagram.
“What an absolute legend you are @karolineleavitt for the job you have done as press secretary for the White House!” Patrick wrote, adding, “Loved every witty and intelligent min of watching you deliver news and truth! Congrats on the great work and the decision to step away and focus on your motherhood and your family.”
