An old video of Donald Trump playing tennis barefoot with tennis star Serena Williams is making the rounds online, and it has left many fans of the Olympic gold medalist scratching their head. The reality behind the video, and the exact nature of Williams’ relationship to Trump, turns out to be much more complicated than it seems.
Related
Martina Navratilova can’t erase trans women of color from queer history.
The video was shared by an X/Twitter user on Tuesday, and it has since amassed more than 11 million views (at the time of writing). Aside from the Trump supporters, who seem to believe that an obvious puff piece clip is evidence of the septuagenarian’s athletic skill, many viewers were concerned and disappointed by Williams’ involvement.
“Never would I ever believe Serena embracing President Trump,” one comment read.
Culture, unfiltered
Our newsletter will bring you the pulse of queer culture, from the tastemakers to the groundbreakers.
The video dates from April 2015, roughly two months before Trump had announced his candidacy for the 2016 election. The mock match between the two was intended to christen the opening of a new tennis facility at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
Williams, who is a Jehovah’s witness, previously told the Associated Press that she would never endorse Trump or any other politician due to her religion. The official website explains, “We do not lobby, vote for political parties or candidates, run for government office, or participate in any action to change governments.”
But their relationship does not end there. Williams admitted that she has met Trump “several times,” given that she lives close to his Mar-a-Lago estate. “Everyone in Palm Beach kind of knows each other,” she explained.
But there’s reason to believe this statement underplays their relationship. During Trump’s 2024 hush money trial, in which the President was convicted on all 34 felony counts, Williams was named among the people with whom he had “frequent contact” at the start of his first term in 2017.
In a June 2024 profile, The New York Times pressed Williams on this point. “I talk to a lot of presidents,” Williams said. “I spoke to Barack, I spoke to the Clintons. I spoke to every president since I’ve been alive, including Ronald Reagan. I mean, is this what this interview is about?”
“When somebody has a chance to talk to a president, I’m curious what they talked about,” the journalist pressed on.
“I don’t know,” Williams responded. “I’m not going to go there.”
Sign up for the INTO newsletter and get your twice-weekly dose of stories that shape the queer experience, culture, and lifestyle.
