Trump ally Dana White says he wants nothing more to do with ‘disgusting’ politics
Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship figurehead and longtime Donald Trump ally, has said he wants “nothing more to do with politics”, branding it both “gross” and “disgusting”.
The 55-year-old CEO and president of UFC spoke at the Republican National Convention this summer to introduce Mr Trump as his “friend”, saying he was someone who is “truly about people”.
After the 78-year-old Republican defeated Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, Mr White was among a number of special guests invited to appear on stage with him at a Mar-a-Lago victory party.
In an interview with the New Yorker, Mr White said Mr Trump remained his friend, but unlike people such as Elon Musk, he wanted no role as an official adviser.
“I’m never f—ing doing this again,” he said. “‘I want nothing to do with this s—. It’s gross. It’s disgusting. I want nothing to do with politics.”
The UFC is said to be the world’s largest mixed-martial-arts organisation, and Mr White’s backing of Mr Trump was viewed as helping him to increase turnout especially among younger men.
Mr Trump, as well his vice president-elect JD Vance, also received the endorsement of comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan, who has a large, young audience, around 80 per cent of which are men.
It is not clear what led Mr White to make the decision to turn his back on politics.
It appears he is still very much a supporter of Mr Trump.
“Donald Trump is tougher and more badass than anybody,” he told the New Yorker.
“You can only pray that you’re a quarter of the man that Donald Trump was when a guy tried to take seven shots at his head with a high-powered rifle with a f—ing scope on it.”
Earlier this month, Mr White and Mr Trump attended a UFC event in New York, where they sat next to each other. Also among the guests were Kid Rock, Mr Musk, and two of Mr Trump’s Cabinet picks, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-head with Mr Musk Mr Trump’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, was also present.