Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 5, 2025 · Entertainment

Don Johnson's White House Confession: The Drug Story No One Expected

Don Johnson (L, pictured in 1985) is a frequent visitor of the White House in Washington, DC - having stopped by for every president's term as far back as Jimmy Carter

Scandalous Secrets and High-Stakes Shenanigans: Don Johnson's Wild Ride Through the Years

Don Johnson, the charismatic star of Miami Vice, has been a regular at the White House for decades, rubbing shoulders with some of the most powerful men in America - including Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. And it seems that Don's good fortune didn't just end there. According to sources close to the actor, his many visits to the nation's capital were often a recipe for debauchery and high-stakes shenanigans.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Don shared some salacious stories about his White House exploits. The 75-year-old actor was shown a photo of himself with the late President Carter at a campaign concert in 1976, along with Melanie Griffith (Don's ex-wife) and other notable musicians, including the Allman Brothers. When asked about the photo, Don quipped, "I don't remember that photo but we were all stoned." Ouch!

Jimmy Kimmel (R) brought up the late politician during the 75-year-old Miami Vice alum's fifth appearance on his ABC late-night talk show Wednesday where he showed him a 1976 photo of the pair backstage at a campaign concert

Kimmel pressed Don for more details, asking if he had ever smoked marijuana at the White House. Don hesitated before confessing, "I don't know how to answer this... Well, yes, I guess I did." Wow! That's some serious 1970s-era partying right there.

But that wasn't all - Don also regaled Kimmel with stories of his adventures with President George H.W. Bush at the 1992 Winter Olympics in France. "He was fantastic," Don gushed. "He was a great guy." However, things took a turn for the competitive when Don and Bush engaged in a heated game of golf at Camp David. According to Don, Bush wanted to gamble with him, but things didn't go quite as planned: "I took his money... And let me tell you something, he's a trash talker. But he ran into a buzzsaw because so am I!"

Don's White House escapades are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his life of excess and debauchery. The actor has been married five times, including to Oscar nominee Melanie Griffith, whom he began dating when she was just 15 years old! Talk about a scandalous affair.

'I don't remember that photo but we were all stoned,' Don confessed of the group, including the Allman Brothers and his then 19-year-old ex-wife Melanie Griffith

But that wasn't all - Don's personal life is riddled with other juicy secrets. He has three children with his current wife, Kelley Phleger: Jasper (22), Deacon (19), and Grace (25). However, he also has four other kids from previous relationships, including 35-year-old Dakota with Melanie Griffith.

Don's wild ride continues to this day - the actor is currently starring in ABC's medical drama Doctor Odyssey, although his show hasn't been renewed for a second season. Not to mention, three crew members have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Disney and 20th Century Studios, citing alleged mistreatment on set. Yikes!

Despite all the controversy surrounding him, Don remains unapologetic about his checkered past. As he told Kimmel during their conversation, "Well, I don't know about him [Jimmy Carter]. I don't want to cast any aspersions on the former president... God rest his soul." Oh, Don - always one for a clever quip!

He continued: 'Well I don't know about him. I don't want to cast any aspersions on the former president. God rest his soul'

Readers can catch more of Don's adventures on Jimmy Kimmel Live! - but be warned: it's a wild ride full of salacious secrets and high-stakes shenanigans. And if you're looking for more juicy gossip about your favorite celebrities, stay tuned to thescholarlynote.com for all the latest updates!

Sources:

  • thescholarlynote.com

Johnson said the group were later invited to the White House where 'the fun began'

The 57-year-old host asked if the Emmy nominee had fun like Willie Nelson (L, pictured in 1982), who previously confessed he smoked marijuana on the roof in 1978 with Carter's son Chip

'Did you smoke at the White House?' Jimmy pressed

Don (born Donnie) reluctantly replied: 'I don't know how to answer this. Well, yes... I guess I did'

Johnson also spent quality time with the late President George H.W. Bush (pictured in 1992) while he was representing the States at the 1992 Winter Olympics in France

The Rebel Ridge actor recalled: '[He wasn't a stoner] but he wanted to gamble when we played golf out at Camp David. And so I took his money. And let me tell you something, he's a trash talker. But he ran into a buzzsaw because so am I!'

When Kimmel asked how much Don won, he shrugged: 'It wasn't that much. 18 or 20 bucks, but that's the best 18 or 20 bucks you'll ever get!'