Fact Check: Did Donald Trump and Serena Williams ever play tennis together?

Trump has never been known for his interest in tennis, until a recent video surfaced showing him playing the sport
A video circulated online which shows Donald Trump playing tennis with Serena Williams (Getty Images)
A video circulated online which shows Donald Trump playing tennis with Serena Williams (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump has never been known for his interest in tennis, until a recent video surfaced showing him playing the sport with one of the greatest players of all time, Serena Williams.

The unexpected footage quickly took the internet by surprise, but it also sparked doubts about its authenticity.

The video has raised suspicions, leaving many wondering whether this moment was genuine or carefully crafted to deceive viewers.



 

Video shows Donald Trump and Serena Williams playing tennis together

Weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration, a video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter). Posted by a user under the handle @realjessica05, the video shows the president playing tennis with Serena Williams. The video quickly gained attention, racking up over 2.6K comments, 11.3 million views, and 158K supportive reactions. 

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The 1.42-minute clip was captioned, “Just when you think you’ve seen it all... Trump playing tennis with Serena Williams, barefoot in a full suit 😂.”

In the nearly two-minute video, Trump can be seen hitting a few balls with Williams, with the audience cheering when he manages to make a successful hit. However, when one of Trump’s shots hit the net, the crowd sighed.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 25: Serena Williams attends The Prelude to The Paris Games 2024 on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)
Serena Williams attends The Prelude to The Paris Games 2024 on July 25, 2024, in Paris, France (Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Overall, it was a wholesome moment for everyone present, witnessing Trump play alongside Serena Williams. 

According to Snopes, Trump also introduced Williams at the event, saying, “It is an honor to have the incredible Serena Williams join us today to officially open this magnificent building — she is a true champion and is the greatest of all time.” 

Williams also praised the venue, stating, “This doesn't look like your average tennis facility, and I've been in a lot of tennis facilities. This one is the best one I've ever seen.”

Upon watching the video, many questioned, "Is this for real?" wondering if the clip was genuine or AI-generated.



 

True: Donald Trump once played tennis with Serena Williams


ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 03: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a round table discussion with Black business owners before his rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center on August 03, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Polls currently show a close race between Trump and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Donald Trump holds a round table discussion with Black business owners before his rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center on August 3, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

While many questioned the authenticity of the video being circulated on social media, it has been reported that Donald Trump did, in fact, play tennis with Serena Williams. Several pieces of credible evidence have been gathered to confirm this as a true event.

First, reputable news outlets have reported that Trump visited a tennis facility he backed in Sterling, Virginia, on April 7, 2015, and briefly played tennis with Williams.

Second, the video appears to be free from digital manipulation or artificial software, suggesting it is not a product of editing.

The most significant evidence comes from the official Facebook page of the Trump National Golf Club, which shared a video of the volley exchange on the day the event took place in 2015.



 

 Additionally, an independent photographer from Virginia published a gallery of images from the event, including shots of Trump and Williams posing together on the court.

Although the exact origin of the video’s recent resurfacing on social media is unclear, these pieces of evidence confirm that the clip is indeed authentic.

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