Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, a prominent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, has announced he is stepping away from politics. After playing a high-profile role in Trump’s re-election campaign, White expressed his disillusionment with the political world, calling it “gross” and “disgusting.”
White’s decision, revealed in a candid interview with The New Yorker, followed UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, an event attended by Trump and several of his newly announced Cabinet picks, including Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“I’m never f***ing doing this again,” White declared, underscoring his distaste for the political process.
White’s public support for Trump dates back to the early days of the UFC, with Trump being credited as a critical supporter in the sport’s rise to mainstream popularity. Trump’s attendance at UFC events, often alongside prominent figures like podcaster Joe Rogan and musician Kid Rock, has solidified his connection to the sport’s largely young, male demographic—a key voting bloc in the recent election.
“Young men, one of the most unreliable demographics in politics, make up a large part of UFC’s audience,” noted Sam Eagan, the New Yorker journalist who covered White’s interview.
Podcasts like Rogan’s, known for their long-form, unfiltered discussions, played a significant role in shaping perceptions of Trump among this demographic. White suggested that platforms like Rogan’s allow younger voters to connect with Trump on a personal level, bypassing traditional media narratives.
“You’re getting conversations in these podcasts, and you yourself, as a young kid, get to really see who Donald Trump is,” White said. “Not the bullsh*t you hear from the far-left media.”
Eagan drew comparisons between the UFC and Trump’s political persona, describing the sport as a mix of “camp theatrics” and “abject brutality” that mirrors Trump’s unique combination of showmanship and resilience.
“The UFC alternates between the camp theatrics of show business and a kind of abject brutality that is impossible to look away from,” Eagan wrote. “The sport is now fully in the mainstream, but it still has a chip on its shoulder, casting itself and its fans as widely misunderstood.”
White praised Trump’s toughness and ability to withstand adversity. “Donald Trump is tougher and more badass than anybody,” White said. “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.”
Trump’s presence at UFC 309 wasn’t the only buzzworthy moment of the night. His announcement of several key Cabinet picks, including Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sparked discussions among attendees and political analysts alike.
One nomination in particular—former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the new U.S. Attorney General—has garnered widespread Republican support. Bondi’s selection followed a controversial failed nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), whose potential appointment faced backlash from several Senate Republicans.
“Congratulations to my friend @PamBondi, the next attorney general of the United States,” tweeted Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). “I look forward to supporting her nomination in the Senate.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was equally enthusiastic, predicting a smooth confirmation process for Bondi. “Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick,” Graham wrote on X.
While White’s disillusionment with politics was clear, his admiration for Trump remains unshaken. White has often credited Trump for his early support of the UFC during a time when the sport struggled to gain legitimacy.
“As the UFC has grown, there’s been a lot of people that have jumped on the bandwagon and became fans,” White said. “Trump was there from the beginning.”
Despite White’s decision to step away from politics, his role in Trump’s re-election campaign cannot be understated. From appearing at rallies to hosting Trump at high-profile UFC events, White leveraged his influence to connect Trump with younger voters and solidify his base.
With White stepping back from politics, the UFC president appears ready to refocus on his role in the sport he has helped grow into a global phenomenon. Meanwhile, Trump’s ties to the UFC and its fan base remain strong, demonstrating how cultural platforms like mixed martial arts and podcasts are reshaping political engagement in America.
As Trump prepares to assume office once again, his alliance with figures like White underscores the intersection of sports, entertainment, and politics in modern American life. Whether White’s exit from the political scene is permanent or temporary, his influence in this election cycle has left a lasting impression.
