President Donald Trump has described Tiger Woods’ plea deal following his rollover crash in Florida as “very fair.” Woods agreed to a deal that includes a five-year suspension of his driving licence, while Trump said the golfer plans to hire a driver going forward.
Trump, who has a close relationship with Woods, also spoke about the golfer’s ongoing health struggles, saying he has been dealing with “great pain” because of persistent back problems. The president attributed the crash to pain medication Woods was taking after what he called a botched back surgery.
Trump Breaks Silence on Tiger Woods’ DUI Plea Agreement
President Donald Trump has weighed in on Tiger Woods’ Florida plea deal, describing the agreement as “very fair” while defending the golfer over the circumstances surrounding his arrest. Trump, who has maintained a friendship with Woods for years, spoke about the 50-year-old golfer’s ongoing struggles with severe back pain and prescription medication.
“I know Tiger, very well. He’s a great guy,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s Peter Doocy. “He’s unique in so many ways, especially as an athlete, but also as a man. He suffers great pain, great pain. It’s a very tough situation because they didn’t find alcohol on him. He didn’t test positive at all for alcohol.”
Trump said Woods’ previous back surgery had left him dealing with significant pain, which he believes contributed to the situation. “But because of his horrible back – he had, my opinion, a bad doctor – but he had a back operation that did not work out well. And he is under pain,” Trump said. “And so, it’s a tough deal when you’re taking a painkiller because you’re under pain and tremendous pain and you have a problem and you test positive.” He added, “He would have told him that. I mean, it’s a prescription painkiller, but I thought it was very fair.”
The president also said he had previously encouraged Woods to stop driving himself. “I mean, 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?” Trump said. “So, he’s going to have somebody drive him from now on. He’s just a very special guy. I’m glad. I’m glad that was resolved.”
What Tiger Woods’ Florida Plea Deal Means for the Golfer
Woods appeared in a Florida court and changed his plea from not guilty to no contest as part of the agreement. He pleaded no contest to willful and wanton reckless driving, a second offense, along with a careless driving citation. The deal reduced the original DUI-related case and included a $1,000 fine and a five-year suspension of Woods’ driver’s license. The case followed a March 27 rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, when Woods’ Land Rover clipped a truck and rolled onto its side. Woods told deputies that he had been looking at his phone and changing the radio station before the collision.
A breathalyzer showed no alcohol in his system, while authorities said he refused a urine test and found two pain pills in his pocket. Woods was initially arrested on suspicion of DUI and refusing to submit to testing before later being allowed to leave the country for treatment. He spent six weeks in Switzerland and has continued to deal with significant physical issues following his 2021 crash and years of back problems. Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019, and Woods has not publicly commented on the plea deal.
