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Trump Fundraiser Gets Slapped With Cease & Desist Letter From Formula 1 Race Organizers

Trump can't fundraise at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.

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Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami

(Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategul T/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

I’m one of those newer Formula 1 fans that got drawn in by the excellent Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive. Then stayed for the GOAT performance of Lewis Hamilton in 2021 — and you will never convince me that championship wasn’t stolen from him. Now I hate watch the sport as new technical specifications mean Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is virtually assured a victory at every circuit.

With the winner of each race basically a foregone conclusion, F1 fans have to find entertainment where they can. The driver contract negotiations for 2025, allegations of wildly inappropriate behavior by a team boss, Taylor Swift lyrics that maybe (but probably not) reference two-time champion Fernando Alonso, seemingly avoidable crashes, a weird team carpool, new highlighter-esque uniforms and a failed rebrand — they’ve all proven infinitely more interesting than watching which driver is at the top of the podium. Now Donald Trump has given F1 fans something new to talk about.

The Miami Grand Prix, the first of three American GPs scheduled for this season, is this weekend, and yes, everything will be wrapped in pink and turquoise. But a legal drama is bubbling over. Noted Trump fundraiser Steven Witkoff got a cease and desist letter from the organizers of the Miami Grand Prix. Seems they got wind of Witkoff holding a fundraiser for Trump during the GP — something they don’t take kindly to.

From the Washington Post:

“It has come to our attention that you may be using your Paddock Club Rooftop Suite for a political purpose, namely raising money for a federal election at $250,000 per ticket, which clearly violates the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix suite license agreement,” read the letter, which was obtained by The Washington Post. “If this is true, we regret to inform you that your suite license will be revoked, you will not be allowed to attend the race at any time, and we will refund you in full.”

And this makes a ton of sense. Venues place all sorts of restrictions on what spectators can do with their seats and this is exactly the sort of activity they try to snuff out. The terms of the suite specifically bar “advertising, promotional or commercial purposes (including without limitation, prizes, competitions, contests, or sweepstakes) without the prior written consent of Promoter and the F1 entities …”

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Trump is reportedly planning on attending the GP, with the Secret Service planning the details. WaPo reports the fundraiser was organized through the Shell Bay golf club.

In a recent club newsletter, members of the club received an invitation to the Miami Grand Prix that advertised a helicopter trip and other perks. It did not mention Trump, but according to two people who called the club about the event, they were told the event was for Trump and would cost $250,000. The suite was purchased in Witkoff’s name.

Witkoff would only — cryptically — comment, saying, “This is something fake, for sure.” But as more details emerge it’s sure interesting to keep tabs on. Hell, it’s the only entertaining aspect of F1 — at least until Hamilton makes his way over to Ferrari next year.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

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