Serena Williams sidesteps question about Donald Trump connection in NY Times interview: ‘Not going there’

Serena Williams avoided getting political in a recent interview with the New York Times, after the former world No. 1 was seemingly caught off guard by a question asking about her connection to former President Donald Trump – a revelation that was made during Trump’s criminal trial in New York last month. 

Williams, who announced her plans to retire in September 2022 following a legendary career that saw her win 23 Grand Slam titles, appeared on the NYT latest podcast episode of "The Interview," which was released on Saturday. 

Serena Williams, of the United States, reacts after beating Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, in the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

She spoke about a wide range of topics, including life after retirement, ahead of a new eight-part documentary that is set to stream next month on ESPN+. 

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But the conversation shifted to Williams’ connection with former President Donald Trump. 

The New York Times reported in May that a former aide had testified during his trial that the two "spoke frequently." 

"I mean, is this what this interview is about?" Williams responded laughingly when asked by co-host David Marchese whether the two spoke. "Really?" 

She then seemingly flipped the script, pointing out that she has spoken to several presidents. Including the late Ronald Reagan. 

File - 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, attend the Women's Singles Quarterfinals match between Serena Williams of the United States and Venus Williams of the United States on Day Nine of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2015, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.  (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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"I talk to a lot of presidents. I spoke to Barack [Obama], I spoke to the Clintons. I spoke to every president since I’ve been alive, including Ronald Reagan, I’ll have you know." 

Marchese then asked what Williams thought "they’re looking for" in having those conversations with her, but Williams declined to indulge.

"I don’t know, I’m not going to go there," she said, again, with a laugh.  

Serena Williams at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California.  (Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)

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The conversation returned to Williams, who spoke at length about her love for tennis, which continues despite her reassurance that there’s no comeback on the horizon, and how she is navigating retirement and motherhood. 

"It’s a life I’ve never experienced," she said. "You have to understand: For my entire life, since I can remember, it’s been about one thing. I don’t know anything else. And so this is all new to me. It’s like a whole new career. And of course, I prefer playing tennis, but that’s because I’ve done it my whole life." 

Williams went on to say that she’s happy that she "misses" tennis. 

"I didn’t realize that I would have such an amazing relationship with tennis after it was all said and done. It’s a good miss. It’s like a nostalgia. I love that." 

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