Trump's UFC Ally Takes the Stage
UFC President Dana White, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, will introduce the former president as the finale of the Republican National Convention.
The friendship between Dana White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Donald Trump dates back to 2001. White, a college dropout turned boxercise instructor, had risen to prominence as the UFC president, leading the company through a period of intense scrutiny and public criticism.
At the time, mixed martial arts (MMA) was considered a violent and controversial sport. Senator John McCain had famously labelled it "human cockfighting" and led a campaign to ban the UFC, forcing the organization to operate in smaller markets.
However, in 2000, New Jersey legalized MMA, and Trump, a prominent figure in Atlantic City, saw an opportunity. He contacted White and offered to host UFC events at his Trump Taj Mahal casino and hotel.
"Trump literally called us," White recalled in 2022. "He said 'Come to my place, do the event here. We'll have you at the Trump Taj Mahal'."
The Trump Taj Mahal hosted UFC 31 and UFC 32, events that helped elevate the UFC's profile and pave the way for the company to secure larger venues in the future. Today, the UFC is the world's largest MMA promotion, valued at $12.3 billion.
White has remained a loyal friend and supporter of Trump throughout his rise from businessman to politician. He campaigned for Trump during the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC), praising him as "a hard worker" with "great business instincts".
"I know fighters," White said. "Donald Trump is a fighter, and I know he will fight for this country."
He endorsed Trump again at the 2020 RNC, championing Trump's record in office and urging voters to "re-elect" him. White has often expressed his disdain for the mixing of business and politics, declaring that he "does not give a [expletive]" about the two intersecting.
White has also faced controversy, admitting to slapping his wife following a drunken altercation caught on video. Despite this, he has remained a close confidante of Trump, attending numerous events and offering unwavering support, particularly in the wake of Trump's legal challenges following his presidency.
Trump has shown a strong affinity for the UFC, attending at least four events in the past year, making dramatic entrances with an entourage and taking VIP seats close to the octagon.
The UFC is a sport that appeals to a traditionally conservative audience, with many fighters voicing their support for conservative values and self-identifying as "pro-American patriots." Despite including female fighters, the sport embodies hyper-masculinity, aligning well with the image projected by the Trump campaign.
Trump's appearances at UFC events have been met with enthusiastic support from the partisan crowds. While his popularity within the UFC is evident, it's unclear if his appeal extends to other sports arenas, even those traditionally friendly to his brand, such as Nascar, the PGA Tour, and the WWE.
The recent assassination attempt on Trump has solidified White's support for the former president.
"Everybody wants to act like the tough guy. But when the [expletive] goes down, you find out who the tough guys are and who the tough guys are not," White stated on The Pat McAfee Show. "This guy is the legitimate, ultimate, American badass of all time."
In the wake of the shooting, Trump has reportedly revised his RNC speech, emphasizing unity. However, White's previous convention appearances suggest that his introduction to Trump may not strike the same conciliatory tone.
The RNC will also feature a speech by controversial pro-wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who, like White, is seen as a symbol of the "American badass" persona that Trump has cultivated.
As one Trump surrogate described it, Trump's walk onto the stage will be akin to "Hogan at Wrestlemania," a spectacle guaranteed to ignite the crowd and emphasize Trump's image as a powerful and formidable leader.
