The president, who played golf with Woods before heading to New Orleans for the Super Bowl last month, shared his thoughts on the new couple during a press briefing in the Oval Office.
“I have great affection for both Tiger and Vanessa. They share a wonderful connection,” the President stated.
Despite appearing to accept the new romance, the 78-year-old seemed reluctant to fully move past his son’s divorce from the socialite.
Donald Jr. and Vanessa, who were married in 1998 and have five children together, finalized their divorce in 2018. Reflecting on the situation, Trump suggested that his son’s marriage was adversely affected by what he described as a politically motivated “witch hunt” regarding Russia.
“Vanessa and Don had a very strong relationship. They are the proud parents of five remarkable children, all of whom excel in athletics and academics. Their separation, which occurred some time ago, is quite unfortunate, as I believe they are both wonderful individuals,” Trump remarked.Earlier this month, Woods posted affectionate photos with Vanessa on social media, proclaiming that “love is in the air.”
However, before publicly announcing their new relationship, the couple had one significant individual to inform: the President.
Trump disclosed that Woods, whom he described as having a “special relationship” with him, personally shared the news.
“Tiger actually called me a few months ago,” Trump stated while addressing reporters from the Oval Office on Monday.
“I have a special, very good relationship with Tiger. I played golf with him a couple of times over the past month, and he’s a fantastic guy and a fantastic athlete.
“He told me about it, and I said, ‘Tiger, that’s good.’ I’m very happy for both of them. Just let both of them be happy.” The President emphasized his close connection with the 15-time major champion, as seen in a photo from Woods’ Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in 2019.
The golf icon has been in a relationship with Vanessa, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., since Thanksgiving. They were seen together at a golf tournament on February 16. Sources indicate that Don Jr. is “cool” with his ex-wife’s new romance, as they were photographed together in 2015.
Vanessa, a former model and mother of five, filed for an uncontested divorce from Don Jr. on March 15, 2018, in New York. Since their separation, she has not been involved in any high-profile relationships.
Don Jr. continues to serve as a close advisor to his father and has taken on significant responsibilities within the family business.
Woods, 49, and Vanessa, 47, both residing in Florida, have been together since Thanksgiving, as confirmed by four sources to DailyMail.com.
They live just 20 minutes apart in the affluent Palm Beach area and were recently spotted together at a golf tournament last month.
Vanessa’s eldest daughter, Kai, 17, and Woods’ children, Charlie, 16, and Sam, 17, all attend The Benjamin School, which has an annual tuition of $38,595.Woods and Vanessa did not attend the Junior Invitational, a golf tournament held in South Carolina earlier this month, where both Kai and Charlie participated.
Don Jr. was also absent from the event, although sources indicate that he is comfortable with his ex-wife’s new relationship. Additionally, Woods’s ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, was not present at the tournament.
This development followed a report from DailyMail.com, which disclosed that Woods had contacted Elin to inform her of his new relationship, concerned that details about their romance might become public. DailyMail.com also revealed that the golf legend is now dating Donald Trump Jr.’s ex-wife.
Tiger’s children, Sam (center) and Charlie (left), attend The Benjamin School alongside Kai Trump. Seventeen-year-old Sam Alexis Woods plays soccer, while sixteen-year-old Charlie Axel Woods is also an avid golfer.
Neither Vanessa nor Woods participated in the Junior Invitational, despite the presence of both Kai Trump (pictured) and Charlie Woods in South Carolina.
Woods reached out to the 45-year-old shortly after their relationship began, with a source telling DailyMail.com that the brief and somewhat awkward conversation lasted only a few minutes.
“Tiger and Elin are supportive of each other,” the source stated. “Her initial reaction was one of surprise, asking, ‘Seriously? A Trump? For real?’ She found it amusing but quickly accepted the situation.”
“They don’t necessarily give each other their ‘blessing,’ but they keep each other informed about anyone who will be around the children.”
On March 23, Woods shared photos with Vanessa on his Instagram and X accounts. One image featured them in front of a wall adorned with vines, while another captured them cuddling on a hammock.
“Love is in the air, and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey together,” Woods wrote. “At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those dear to us.”
The posts received a positive response, amassing hundreds of thousands of likes and comments, including reactions from Vanessa’s former sister-in-law, Ivanka Trump, and her daughter.Don Jr. publicly ended his engagement with Kimberly Guilfoyle following the revelation in September that he was in a relationship with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. The two were seen together at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025, at the Capitol.
A source close to Don Jr. informed DailyMail.com last week, “He was aware that this would become a major news story once it was disclosed. He wasn’t particularly pleased about it. However, the fact that Tiger is dating a Trump is bound to attract attention, which is precisely what he wanted to avoid.”
As speculation grew, discussions intensified.
“Benjamin is akin to a small community,” the insider remarked, “and nothing excites wealthy individuals more than gossiping about one another. Honestly, I’m surprised it remained under wraps for so long.”
Woods and Vanessa reside roughly 20 minutes apart in Palm Beach, Florida, and a source indicated that the former model visits the professional golfer’s home several nights a week.
“They genuinely enjoy spending time together, dining, and socializing,” the insider noted.
Last month, they were photographed arriving together at the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in California, but they refrained from public displays of affection to keep their relationship under the radar.
Kai, who is set to play golf at the University of Miami next year, was seen wearing an outfit from Woods’ clothing line.
In February, Vanessa also accompanied Kai to watch a round of the TGL, the golf league established by Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The golf icon, who has not been in a prominent relationship for over two years, has begun dating Vanessa amid uncertainties regarding his professional future following a series of significant injuries.
On March 11, Woods announced that he had undergone yet another surgery, this time to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, which has ruled out his participation in The Masters scheduled for April.Vanessa wed the eldest son of the President in 2005 and together they had five children. Their marriage ended in divorce 13 years later.
According to sources speaking to DailyMail.com, Vanessa is not concerned about the 2009 scandal involving her ex-husband, who was unfaithful to his then-wife, Elin Nordegren, with multiple women.
