 "Who is Dana White, who was mentioned by Donald Trump in his ‘victory’ speech?")
Dana White may be best known to UFC fans, but the face of the popular mixed martial arts brand emerged as a key supporter of Donald Trump during his campaign to return to the White House and defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections.
On Wednesday, Trump clinched the US presidency after securing 277 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’ 224, according to the Associated Press. Among the seven swing states, Trump won Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, and is leading in three others.
He is ahead in Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, where his clearest paths to victory rely on Harris falling short in the remaining vote counts, as reported by the news agency.
As votes were tallied nationwide, Trump addressed supporters in Florida, thanking his Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk for their contributions to his campaign.
Trump also gave special recognition to Dana White, CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, who joined him on stage.
Catch all updates on US presidential election in our live coverage here .
Who is Dana White?
Dana White, 55, entered the fighting industry in Boston, where he worked in boxing, training, and fighter management. However, after reportedly being threatened by people claiming he owed $2,500, White left the East Coast abruptly for Las Vegas, according to Forbes.
In Las Vegas, White shifted to training Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, including some featured in UFC events, and began attending the matches. Speaking to Forbes, he said, “I ended up finding that out, that they’re in trouble and they’re probably going to go out of business.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn 2002, he acquired a minority stake in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Serving as president of Zuffa LLC, White joined a group that acquired UFC when it was nearing bankruptcy, relocating operations to Las Vegas and working to legitimise the sport.
Over two decades later, Forbes valued the UFC at $11.3 billion, establishing it as the highest-valued combat sports promotion in the country, far surpassing World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which was valued at $6.8 billion by the magazine earlier this year.
With White leading the company and support from the Fertitta brothers, UFC witnessed a huge transformation. A crucial moment came in 2005 with the creation of the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, which White co-developed.
The show expanded MMA’s reach to a broader audience and provided a stage for emerging fighters and building a dedicated fan base for the UFC. The finale fight between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin, credited with “saving the UFC,” achieved record ratings and massive public interest.
ALSO READ | Donald Trump is all set to become next president of the US. Here’s how he did it
Dana White and his support for Trump
Dana White’s support for Donald Trump goes back to over 25 years. Long before Trump’s initial presidential bid in 2016, he helped establish White’s UFC brand.
During UFC’s early days, the sport faced heavy backlash for its perceived brutality, with several critics like the late US Senator John McCain pushing to ban it from cable TV, famously labelling MMA as “human cockfighting.” However, after MMA was legalised in New Jersey, Trump hosted UFC events at his properties, a crucial endorsement at a time when others turned away.
In an interview with The Times, White said, “Nobody took us serious then, except Donald Trump,” adding, “I would never say anything negative about Donald Trump because he was there when other people weren’t.”
White again publicly supported Trump in 2020, calling his re-election “critically important,” according to the BBC.
ALSO READ | JD Vance will be Trump’s vice president. What's his connection to India?
Trump at UFC Events
Trump has remained a frequent attendee at White’s UFC events, including one in New Jersey just days after his conviction on 34 felony charges in his high-profile hush-money case. Greeted by fanfare and music, Trump was escorted to his seat by White himself.
Speaking to NJ.com, White described their friendship as grounded in a shared love for combat sports, stating, “This guy is a fight fan. He’s been a fight fan.”
White at Trump’s ‘victory’ speech
During a speech at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, the UFC boss said, “This is karma ladies and gentlemen. Nobody deserves this more than his family does. This is what happens when the machine comes after you. Couldn‘t stop him. He keeps going forward. He‘s the most resilient man I‘ve ever met in my life. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this.”
JUST IN: Dana White goes off, thanks Joe Rogan for endorsing Donald Trump and helping him over the finish line.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 6, 2024
"This is karma ladies and gentlemen."
"Nobody deserves this more than his family does. This is what happens when the machine comes after you."
"Couldn‘t stop him. He… pic.twitter.com/nNhTXe5fA7
“Last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan. And thank you, America. Thank you.”
Trump claimed victory on Wednesday after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump declared to a packed room of supporters, joined by Vance, Republican leaders, and family members.
He also thanked Elon Musk, who had contributed around $120 million to the campaign. Trump stated Musk would lead a government efficiency commission under his administration.
Although other networks had not yet called the race, Trump appeared close to victory, having won key battlegrounds including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, with leads in several others, according to AP.
Meanwhile, Harris did not address her supporters gathered at Howard University. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, spoke briefly, stating that Harris would make a public statement later on Wednesday.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
