Melania speaks at Freedom 250 race during second public appearance with husband this week…as Trump aide Natalie Harp is spotted close by

First Lady Melania Trump revealed a love of cars instilled in her by her father at a ypung age as she joined her husband, President Donald Trump, for her second public appearance of the week as the duo attend the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC on Sunday.

Trump aide Natalie Harp was spotted at the race as well, chatting it up with first son Eric Trump. The outing comes as the President heightened scrutiny surrounding his close personal aide after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff leveled a vicious innuendo about their working relationship at a rally in Georgia last week. Melania and Harp rarely appear at the same event. 

In an interview with Fox Sports reporter Jamie Little, Melania revealed, that her father, Viktor Knavs, loved cars and shared the love with her: ‘When I was growing up, my father introduced me to the races and to the race cars,’ she noted.

‘He introduced me to the design of cars and the mechanics and also the speed — and I loved every minute of it,’ Melania added.

The first couple were spotted earlier in the presidential motorcade, ahead of taking a handful of honorary laps of the track ahead of the IndyCar race. The President also waved the green flag to commence the race.

Earlier in the week, the first lady kicked off another event in the White House Rose Garden with a punchy eight-word opener of: ‘I heard you missed me. Here I am.’

That event marked her first public appearance with her husband Donald in more than a month, after the two were spotted together on July 19 at the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey.

At her Rose Garden event, Melania announced a partnership with IndyCar and Fox Sports to expand scholarship opportunities for kids aging out of the foster care system. The effort includes funding for programs at Indiana University and Purdue University.

Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, is being hosted by IndyCar  to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial birthday.

‘Fostering the Future graduates will build new companies, launch new industries, and redefine what is possible for all Americans,’ Melania declared at her event earlier in the week, adding: ‘Fostering the Future is more than an educational initiative; it is generational investment in America’s talents pipeline.’

 Top international motorsport officials praised the Freedom 250 INDYCAR race as a celebration of American history and the country’s racing tradition.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, said the event would bring together the nation’s 250th anniversary with a sport synonymous with innovation and speed.

‘The Freedom 250 INDYCAR race pairs 250 years of American achievement with a sport that embodies speed, ingenuity and the freedom of the open road. This is a landmark event, and it is an honour for the FIA to be a part of it,’ Ben Sulayem said. ‘Congratulations to President Trump, the U.S. Government, INDYCAR, our Member Club ACCUS, and all involved on making this vision a reality.’

Ronan Morgan, president of the FIA Drivers’ Commission and an INDYCAR Independent Officiating Board member, also hailed the race as a showcase of America’s motorsport legacy.

‘The Freedom 250 race will be a fitting celebration of the great American motorsport traditions loved by millions of fans across the world,’ Morgan said. ‘I’m delighted that the relationship between the FIA and INDYCAR is stronger today than ever before as we continue to support one of America’s greatest sporting spectacles.’

Over 140,000 fans are expected to attend the Freedom 250 IndyCar event on Sunday.