Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White has announced that he is distancing himself from politics, stating that he wants nothing to do with it. This decision comes after White played a significant role in supporting President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign.
White, a longtime friend of Trump, helped the president-elect connect with millions of young male voters by endorsing him on various platforms. He actively campaigned for Trump, spoke at the Republican National Convention, and even facilitated Trump's appearances on popular right-leaning podcasts with large young audiences.
White's efforts to promote Trump through these podcasts aimed to provide young voters with a different perspective on the president-elect, away from what he referred to as biased reporting from the mainstream media.
Research from the Pew Research Center indicates that a significant portion of young adults rely on influencers like podcast hosts for their news, with many of these influencers leaning conservative. Trump's appearances on podcasts hosted by figures like Joe Rogan and Theo Von reportedly influenced some young voters to support him.
Despite White's decision to step back from future political involvement, he continues to support Trump and expressed admiration for the president's resilience and toughness. White attended Trump's victory party in Florida after the recent election, where he praised Trump's character and resilience in the face of challenges.
White's withdrawal from politics poses a setback for Republicans who had hoped to leverage his influence in future campaigns. While White's decision may disappoint some, his unwavering support for Trump remains unchanged as the president prepares to return to the White House.
White's departure from the political arena underscores the complexities of mixing sports and politics, highlighting the challenges faced by public figures who choose to align themselves with political figures.
