Tiger Woods and Donald Trump: Golf, Medals and Family Ties
Of all the unlikely celebrity-politician pairings, Tiger Woods and Donald Trump might be the most genuine. This is not a rumor or a mix-up: the golf legend and the U.S. president share a real, years-long friendship built on fairways, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, White House meetings — and, since 2025, an actual family connection through Vanessa Trump. Here is the full story of how the world’s most famous golfer and America’s most famous golf-loving president became close.
| Tiger Woods | Born Dec 30, 1975, California. 15-time major champion, 82 PGA Tour wins, one of golf’s all-time greats. |
| Donald Trump | Born June 14, 1946, New York. 45th and 47th U.S. President; avid golfer and owner of golf courses worldwide. |
| Relationship status | Close friends for years — golf partners, Medal of Freedom honoree, and now connected by family. |
| Known since | Longtime acquaintances through golf; friendship deepened during Trump’s first presidency (2017–2021). |
| Family tie | Since March 2025, Woods has been in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. — with Trump’s public blessing. |
Table of Contents
- Who Is Tiger Woods?
- Who Is Donald Trump?
- The Tiger Woods and Donald Trump Golf Friendship
- From the Medal of Freedom to the White House
- The Vanessa Trump Connection
- Recent Updates on Tiger Woods and Donald Trump (2025–2026)
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Tiger Woods?
Tiger Woods, born Eldrick Tont Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. Turning professional in 1996, he went on to win 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour events, transforming golf’s popularity and prize money forever. His career has also weathered serious setbacks — multiple back and knee surgeries, a devastating 2021 car crash, and personal controversies — yet his comebacks, including the unforgettable 2019 Masters victory, are the stuff of sports legend. For another golf-adjacent sports pairing, see our article on Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams.
Who Is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, served as the 45th president of the United States (2017–2021) and returned to office as the 47th president in 2025. Before politics he was a real estate developer and television personality — and throughout it all, an obsessive golfer who owns courses around the world, including Trump National venues in Florida, New Jersey, Scotland and beyond. His love of the game is the foundation of his bond with Woods. For more on famous athletes in our series, see Michael Phelps and Carrie Underwood.
The Tiger Woods and Donald Trump Golf Friendship
Woods and Trump have played golf together for years, including well-publicized rounds at Trump’s courses. Trump has never hidden his admiration: he has repeatedly called Woods a “great guy” and a “true legend,” telling Fox News in August 2025, “I happen to love Tiger. Tiger is a great guy.” The feeling appears mutual — Woods has joined Trump for golf outings across both of Trump’s terms and has spoken warmly of their friendship. It is a bond built the old-fashioned way: eighteen holes at a time.
From the Medal of Freedom to the White House
The friendship reached its most formal peak on May 6, 2019, when President Trump awarded Tiger Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom — America’s highest civilian honor — in a Rose Garden ceremony, calling him a “true legend.” Woods became one of the few athletes to receive the medal while still active. The relationship continued into Trump’s second term: in February 2025, Woods joined a White House meeting centered on the PGA Tour’s negotiations with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, underscoring how seriously Trump takes both Woods’s counsel and the future of the sport.
The Vanessa Trump Connection
In March 2025, Tiger Woods publicly confirmed he was in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. — making the president’s former daughter-in-law Woods’s partner. Trump publicly congratulated the couple, giving the relationship his blessing. The news turned a friendship into something closer to family: the president and the golf icon are now linked not just by sport and ceremony, but by the Trump family’s inner circle. As of late 2026, the relationship was still going strong, with Vanessa accompanying Woods to public appearances.
Recent Updates on Tiger Woods and Donald Trump (2025–2026)
The bond was tested — and seemingly strengthened — in 2026. After Woods was involved in a March 2026 car incident in Florida and later pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge (with his license suspended for five years), Trump publicly stood by him, calling Woods a “great guy” and saying he believed the case was resolved fairly. Remarkably, Woods told responding officers at the scene that he had just been “talking with the president” — a small detail that says a lot about how close the two remain. Through injuries, legal trouble and family milestones, the Trump–Woods friendship has endured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tiger Woods and Donald Trump friends?
Yes. They have been golf partners and friends for years, and Trump has repeatedly praised Woods publicly.
Did Trump give Tiger Woods the Medal of Freedom?
Yes. On May 6, 2019, President Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him a “true legend.”
Is Tiger Woods dating someone in the Trump family?
Yes. Since March 2025, Woods has been in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Trump publicly congratulated the couple.
Have Woods and Trump played golf together?
Many times, including rounds at Trump’s courses during both of his presidencies.
What was the 2025 White House meeting about?
Woods joined discussions at the White House regarding the PGA Tour’s negotiations with LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed rival tour.
What did Trump say after Woods’s 2026 driving case?
Trump called Woods a “great guy,” said the case was resolved fairly, and noted he had previously suggested Woods get a driver given his pain issues.
The Tiger Woods–Donald Trump story is that rare celebrity pairing with receipts: medals, scorecards, White House meetings and a family romance. For the full biographies, visit Tiger Woods on Wikipedia and Donald Trump on Wikipedia.
