As Donald Trump took to the stage to celebrate his presidential election win early in Palm Beach, expected faces joined him on stage: his wife Melania, children Ivanka, Donald Jr and Barron, and vice presidential running mate Mr JD Vance.
However, another surprising figure also appeared on stage, even being personally invited by Mr Trump to give a speech of his own: Dana White.
“Nobody deserves this more than him and nobody deserves this more than his family does,” Mr White told the crowd of Mr Trump. “This is what happens when the machine comes after you, what you’ve seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like.”
“Couldn’t stop him, he keeps going forward, he doesn’t quit, he’s the most resilient, hardworking man I’ve ever met in my life, his family are incredible people. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen, he deserves this, they deserve this as a family.”
While some called Mr White’s speech inappropriate, others questioned his appearance on the stage altogether. But who is the 55-year-old, and how is he involved in Mr Trump’s campaign?
Who is Dana White?
The American businessman is the current CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an international martial arts organisation that is thought to be worth $12bn (£9.3bn). His own net worth is believed to be around $500m (£389m).
What is Dana White’s connection to Donald Trump?
Mr White’s relationship with Mr Trump goes way back to the 2000s. UFC events have often been described as brutal, having been banned on television in the past and at one point even being threatened with termination altogether.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) was legalised in New Jersey in 2000, however, Mr White said in a 2022 interview that, because of its reputation, venues didn’t want to host fights. “Trump literally called us. He said, ‘Come to my place, do the event here. We’ll have you at the Trump Taj Mahal’.”
According to Mr White, Mr Trump would often show up to watch fights and support the sport, which boosted the company’s profile and helped it to secure future venues. “Nobody took us seriously then, except Donald Trump,” Mr White said in 2018. “I would never say anything negative about Donald Trump because he was there when other people weren’t.”
Mr White has stuck by his word, publicly backing Mr Trump’s presidential runs and appearing at a number of campaign events in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Why are people calling for Dana White to be given a role in government?
Mr White’s rambunctious delivery and commitment to Mr Trump has led to calls from some supporters online for the businessman to be a part of the president-elect’s upcoming presidential team, in particular his press team.
Dana White for press secretary.
— J.D. Haltigan, PhD 🏒👨💻 (@JDHaltigan) November 6, 2024
Dana White as press secretary would go hard
— Mike Stenger (@mikestenger) November 6, 2024
Donald Trump has been projected to become the 47th president of the United States after beating Kamala Harris. He previously served as the 45th president between 2017 and 2021 and famously became the third US president in history to be impeached.
