“I’ve Admired Him as an Entrepreneur”: Dana White Joins Meta Board Amid Alignment with Trump Administration

Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, has been announced as a new member of Meta’s board of directors. The move signals Meta’s growing alignment with the incoming Trump administration.

The announcement on Monday follows other notable shifts within Meta, including the appointment of Republican Joel Kaplan as the company’s chief global affairs officer and a $1 million donation toward Trump’s inauguration.

“Dana is the President and CEO of UFC, and he has built it into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world,” wrote Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post. “I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.”

White has long been a vocal Trump ally. He campaigned for Trump during the 2016 election and delivered a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention. White also played a strategic role in Trump’s campaign, particularly in engaging a younger demographic.

According to The Washington Post, White encouraged Trump to collaborate with online influencers appealing to men under 35, which bolstered the president-elect’s reach with a key voter base. Meta’s decision to bring White on board aligns with Zuckerberg’s personal interests as well.

Zuckerberg, a known mixed martial arts fan, may have been motivated by shared interests, suggested podcaster and tech journalist Kara Swisher during an appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. “So that may be that,” Swisher remarked.

Swisher also criticized what she sees as a broader trend of tech billionaires currying favor with Trump. “I call it feats of servitude,” she said, referencing figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. “Not just going down to Mar-A-Lago but other actions.” She added, “You know I think they’re doing various things they can do to kiss up to Trump.”

White’s addition to Meta’s board has drawn attention to the company’s evolving relationship with the incoming administration. While Zuckerberg has highlighted White’s entrepreneurial success, critics view the move as part of a larger strategy by tech leaders to align with Trump’s influence.

The appointment positions White as a prominent figure within Meta as the company navigates its role in the political and digital landscape under the new administration.