NBA legend Michael Jordan famously said “Republicans buy sneakers, too” when addressing his decision to stay out of political discourse during his career because he never wanted to risk alienating anybody who might be a fan of his.
When it comes to the UFC, the combat sports giant has definitely blurred that line thanks to an ever-expanding relationship with President Donald Trump, which was largely built on a 20-plus year friendship between him and UFC CEO Dana White. When Trump was running for office
in 2016, White spoke for him at the Republican National Convention and he’s continued to show his support — including a brief speaking opportunity at the celebration after Trump won re-election in 2024.
The UFC is currently embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime live event at the White House, which is planned for June 14, with fighters actually expected to walk to the octagon from the Oval Office. Trump has championed the idea and that’s led to heavy investment from the UFC with the promotion expected to spend at least $60 million to stage the event on the south lawn of the White House.
But White denies that his political ideology — or anybody’s opinions on politics — should determine if fans do or don’t watch the UFC.
“How about you be authentic and just be yourself?” White told CBS Sunday Morning when asked about politics potentially dividing UFC fans. “How about that? Just be authentic.
“You don’t have to agree with me. You don’t have to like it and I don’t have to agree with you but we can all still just get along. That’s how this is supposed to work.”
White has repeatedly stated that his view on politics or support for Trump shouldn’t color how anybody feels about the UFC. It can’t be denied that Trump’s continued fandom for the UFC has brought a lot of attention to the company, especially after he’s attended several events in the past.
With the upcoming UFC White House card, that discourse will likely take center stage with the promotion putting on what should be one of the biggest and most publicized events in the history of the sport.
