In a YouTube video titled “Playing Golf with President Trump,” the 45th and 47th Commander-in-Chief is seen on the fairway with his granddaughter, Kai Trump
Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer
09:58, 19 Oct 2025
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods
U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Tiger Woods considers Rory McIlroy the best driver of a golf ball he’s ever seen.
In a YouTube video titled “Playing Golf with President Trump,” the 45th and 47th Commander-in-Chief is seen on the fairway with his granddaughter, Kai Trump.
Kai, who is pursuing a professional golf career, joined her grandfather in discussing the technique behind a golfer’s swing. During the conversation, Trump mentioned both Woods and McIlroy.
“Rory’s got a great swing,” Trump said. “Tiger told me that Rory is the best driver he’s seen. And for Tiger to say that—that’s amazing, right? Because Tiger is great at everything. But he said Rory’s the greatest driver he’s seen.”
Known for his lifelong passion for golf, Trump also shared some of his favorite players when asked by 18-year-old Kai, though he admitted it was difficult to pick just one.
“Tiger, Jack [Nicklaus]. I love Jack,” Trump said. “I love Gary Player. They’re such great athletes, they’re great. I love them all. But I think Tiger, Jack, Gary. I love Bryson [DeChambeau]. I think Scottie’s [Scheffler] going to be great too. He already is, but Scottie’s great.”
Kai is the oldest daughter of Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, and his ex-wife Vanessa. She is currently completing her final year at a private school in Miami, Florida but has already scored deals with brands including Accelerator Active Energy, Leaf Trading Cards, and TaylorMade Golf.
She commands more than six million social media followers – 1.8 million on Instagram, 3.2 million on TikTok, and 1.7 million on YouTube.
Kai’s NIL (name, image, and likeness) valuation sits at around £895,000, making her among the top female student-athlete earners, alongside LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and WNBA star Flaujae Johnson.
In the hour-long video, Kai discussed how she and Trump had been playing golf together for “years” and that it had become their way to “spend time together”.
Images of Trump strolling the greens have somewhat defined both of his Presidencies so far. His kind words about McIlroy to Kai come after the Northern Irishman and his European team-mates brutally trolled the President after Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup win in September.
Luke Donald’s side became only the fifth European team to lift the Ryder Cup in the US, winning by 15 points to 13 at Bethpage Black in New York.
Amid the wild celebrations, Team Europe’s players gathered to send Trump a video message. With McIlroy holding the camera in selfie mode, they sang: “Are you watching? Are you watching? Are you watching, Donald Trump?”
Captain Donald then raised the Ryder Cup towards the camera. Trump responded on Truth Social, posting: “Yes I’m watching. Congratulations.”
