Florida police arrested golf icon Tiger Woods on March 27 for charges including driving under the influence. This is the fourth time Woods has been involved in an automobile incident.
He was released later that night.
Social media users claimed President Donald Trump publicly asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pardon Woods. On multiple social media platforms, people circulated an image of a supposed March 27 Truth Social post from Trump, which read:
“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. 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!”
We found no evidence that Trump made this post. On March 27, Trump made multiple Truth Social posts, but not on 6:21 p.m. as the supposed screenshot showed. There are no news reports or cached copies that prove the post was real.
We’ve seen only one version of the image; the posts used one image with the same number of reposts and likes. If the post did get 565 reposts and more than 1,400 likes, there would likely be other versions or reports about the post.
On the same day of Woods’ arrest, Trump spoke to reporters in Miami and commented on it, but he did not mention a pardon.
“I feel so badly. He’s, he’s got some difficulty. There was an accident and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, amazing man. But, some difficulty,” he said.
Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019, and Woods has visited The White House on other occasions.
Trump didn’t urge DeSantis on Truth Social to pardon Woods. We rate this claim False.
This story originally appeared on PolitiFact
