Tiger Woods found himself at the center of controversy following his DUI arrest on March 27. A post circulated widely on social media, allegedly quoting President Donald Trump, who purportedly called for Woods to be pardoned to allow him to participate in the upcoming Masters tournament.
“I’ve just been told that Tiger Woods, who is a Great Golfer and even Greater American, was involved in a minor fender bender today, and as a result of a misunderstanding, was charged with a dreaded DUI,” the post claimed. “This happening as he attempts to return to professional golf. Everyone deserves a second chance, which Tiger never got, if we’re being honest. That is why I am calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to IMMEDIATELY AND COMPLETELY PARDON Tiger so he can focus on The Masters and help to Make Golf Great Again!”
The original post, a screenshot from what was claimed to be Trump’s TruthSocial account, amassed over two million views across various platforms, including X. “Amazing,” the post exclaimed alongside the statement.
However, the excitement was short-lived as it became clear that the statement was fabricated; Trump had not made any such remarks regarding Woods on his TruthSocial account.
Despite the misinformation, Trump expressed concern for Woods, referring to him as a “very close friend.” “I feel so bad. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump stated when approached by reporters about the incident. “There was an accident, and that’s all I know. A very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man. But some difficulty. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Woods, 50, was arrested in Jupiter Island, Florida, after a rollover car accident. He faced charges of DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test after declining a urinalysis when authorities arrived.
Interestingly, Woods did complete a breathalyzer test that registered triple zeros, indicating he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
After spending approximately eight hours in Martin County Jail—per Florida law—Woods was released around 11 p.m. ET on Friday.
According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, Woods was driving a black Land Rover that clipped the back of a pickup truck towing a small trailer, resulting in Woods's SUV flipping over.
No injuries were reported from the accident. Trump and Woods have shared the golf course in the past, with Trump awarding Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.
In a twist of personal connections, Woods is currently dating Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
