President Donald Trump has weighed in on Tiger Woods’ latest legal case, calling the golf superstar’s plea agreement “very fair” after Woods received a five-year driving ban this week.
Woods entered a no-contest plea Wednesday to a reckless driving charge tied to a March rollover crash in Florida, a case that initially saw the 15-time major champion accused of driving under the influence.
According to authorities, Woods’ SUV struck a truck before tipping onto its side along a residential road near the coast close to his Jupiter Island home. A sheriff’s report said deputies discovered two pain pills in his pocket and noted signs of impairment. While Woods passed a Breathalyzer test with a negative result, he declined to provide a urine sample.
The incident drew further attention after bodycam video surfaced showing Woods speaking to Trump shortly after the crash. In the footage, Woods can be heard telling officers, “I was just talking with the President.”
Asked about Woods’ legal outcome by a reporter in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump offered a brief but clear response, describing the resolution as “very fair.”
He continued: ‘But I think he’s going to have somebody drive him. I told him that a long time ago: ‘Why don’t you get somebody to drive you’
President Donald Trump declared Tiger Woods’ plea deal ‘very fair’ in the Oval Office
Woods appeared puffy-eyed as he left the court alongside doting girlfriend Vanessa Trump
‘So he’s going to have somebody drive him from now on. He’s just a very special guy and I’m glad that was resolved.’
Trump added: ‘It’s a very tough situation because they didn’t find alcohol on him. You know, he didn’t test positive at all for alcohol. It’s a tough deal when you’re taking a painkiller because you’re under pain… and you have a problem and you test positive.’
In the bodycam footage, the golf icon – who is dating Trump’s former daughter-in-law, Vanessa – could be seen in the distance as a police officer repeatedly called after him. The cop approached Woods, urging him to return.
The 15-time major champion appeared to be speaking on the phone when the officer told him: ‘We’ll get you to hang down here with us, please.’
A few moments later, Woods could be heard ending his conversation as he approached the police. ‘Thank you so much – all right, you got it, thank you, bye,’ the 50-year-old says.
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Woods, who has a close relationship with Trump and was awarded the Medal of Freedom during his first term, then tells police: ‘I was just talking with the president.’
Before the hearing in Florida’s Martin County on Wednesday, Woods, 50, sat at the defense table looking back at the mostly empty courtroom gallery. He said little as he agreed to the reduced charge and left the courthouse without addressing reporters.
He had arrived with girlfriend Vanessa and the couple was swarmed by photographers before she took her seat behind him during the proceedings.
Woods called Trump in the moments after his shocking car crash in Florida back in March
Woods is a ‘very close friend’ of Trump and was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2019
Woods also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to testing after the crash
‘Tiger is not absolved of accountability and he surrendered his license for the next five years,’ Mark Steinberg, his longtime manager at Excel Sports told the AP. ‘He is continuing his treatment and prioritizing all aspects of his health.’
The prosecutor in the case said two toxicologists found there was insufficient proof of his impairment and determined Woods had built up a ‘pharmacological’ tolerance after years of using pain pills.
Thomas Bakkedahl, a state attorney, defended his decision to accept the plea, saying, ‘I did what I think is right.’
Prosecutors obtained the golfer’s pharmacy records that showed he had a lawful prescription, Bakkedahl said.
He has had numerous surgeries on his legs and back over the last two decades – some to treat cartilage and ligament damage, a ruptured tendon, arthritis, and damaged discs in his back.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Woods also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to testing after the crash and was fined $1,500, according to court documents.
A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but means the accused will offer no defense. The plea is treated as a conviction in the criminal justice system.