UFC CEO says there is ‘nothing transactional’ about Trump friendship

PoliticsSports
27 May 2026 • 5:26 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

UFC CEO says there is ‘nothing transactional’ about Trump friendship

  • Dana White, president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, maintains that politics rarely features in his long-standing friendship with President Donald Trump.
  • White told Rolling Stone magazine that their conversations typically revolve around personal matters, such as family and well-being, rather than political discussions.
  • He recalled speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention against advice, citing Trump's crucial support for the UFC during its formative years.
  • White maintains that their relationship is a normal, non-transactional friendship, asserting that he does not seek anything from Trump.
  • The UFC is planning an event at the White House on Trump's birthday, which White insists is not intended to be political.

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