FORMER President Donald Trump was spotted cheering along with fans at the final race of the F1 Grand Prix on Sunday, just days after sitting through testimony from ex-aide Hope Hicks last week.
Hicks testified during the second week of Trump‘s hush money trial in New York, where he is facing 34 criminal charges.
So it came as a surprise when Trump was spotted in good spirits at Sunday’s F1 Grand Prix in Miami, so soon after sitting through Hick’s damning testimony.
Prosecutors called Hicks to the stand to offer evidence about whether Trump knew of the payments that his lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly made to keep ex-porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about an alleged affair with the 45th president.
She said he knew.
After sobbing on the stand and taking a minute to calm herself, she gave the court harsh testimony against Trump.
“He wanted to make sure that there was a denial of any kind of relationship,” Hicks said according to The Guardian.
FUN IN THE SUN
The F1 Grand Prix is an annual race that attracts some of the sport’s top competitors, along with a star-studded crowd.
Trump joined the ranks of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Ed Sheeran, and Kendall Jenner in attending this year’s event.
Several photos were snapped of the 2024 presidential candidate with his fists pumping the air and a wide smile on his face, starkly contrasting the somber look he presented in court last week.
Tom Garfinkel, the managing general partner of the F1 race and the Miami Dolphins‘ CEO, said he could not confirm if any celebrities would be at the event due to security reasons.
“I’m not allowed to disclose the attendees for security and privacy reasons,” Garfinkel told USA Today.
“We don’t talk about communications with people, but I will say that there won’t be any fundraisers at the event,” he added.
POLITICS-FREE RACE
Although Trump attended the F1 Grand Prix as a private citizen, his politics are never far behind.
A supporter named Steve Witkoff was cited last month by Grand Prix officials for trying to sell tickets to his race suite for $250,000 as a fundraiser for the former president.
“Political campaigning has its place, and it is not at our race,” officials said in a letter to Witkoff.
“We welcome you and your guests to attend our event and enjoy your suite. However, we respectfully request it be done in compliance with our very clear license agreement,” they wrote.
Fans of racing had plenty to distract them from both the political and Floridian swamps at this year’s exciting race.
McLaren‘s Lando Norris upset the favorite, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, on Sunday’s final race to win his first-ever Grand Prix cup.
BACK TO COURT
Trump faces his third week in court next week for his hush money trial in New York City.
The jury has already heard testimony from several key witnesses in the first two weeks of the trial, including Hicks who will continue her account next week.
Trump is the first former president in history to face criminal charges.
He is also the presumed Republican presidential nominee for president in the election later this year after having already received the requisite number of electoral votes during last year’s primary races.
Prosecutors have not revealed who will take the stand this week, but both Daniels and Cohen are expected to give testimony to the court at some point.
