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Dana White Responds to Speculation About Joining Donald Trump’s Presidential Team

Don't expect the UFC CEO to dive into politics in the near future, especially with Donald Trump back in office.

Zain Bando

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Despite Donald Trump regaining power as the 47th U.S. President, don't expect UFC CEO Dana White to become an official part of the administration and political cabinet over the next four years.

White was seen with Trump Tuesday night at Mar-a-Lago Club with Elon Musk. Trump and White have been close friends for nearly three decades, as Trump was the first celebrity to believe in White's then-newly purchased UFC brand in 2001.

Trump granted White and Zuffa permission to host two events at the Trump Taj Mahal, where, according to White, Trump stayed for the entire event both times.

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According to Sports Business Journal, White revealed he just wants to remain Trump's friend rather than make a business shift by entering politics.

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“Donald Trump is one of my very good friends," White said. "He did a great job in his last term as President, and I know he will do an even better job the next four years. I have no personal political aspirations.”

This answer shouldn't come as a surprise to those who follow MMA closely. White runs the UFC with an iron fist, putting on 42 events per year and maintains a lucrative deal with ESPN+ in the U.S. With numerous champions to keep track of, plus other business ventures like Power Slap and Howler Head whiskey, White's schedule is nothing but busy.

Nevertheless, White intends to stay put with the UFC. He told television personality Dr. Phil he has no intentions of retiring anytime soon, especially given his improved health under the direction of Dr. Gary Brecka.

The UFC's schedule is beginning to wind down regarding events, too. The promotion has three more events this month (including today's UFC Vegas 100) and ends the year with a pay-per-view event in Las Vegas (UFC 310, Dec. 7), followed by UFC Tampa (Dec. 14).

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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