The U.F.C. President, Dana White, on Donald Trump: “He’s Not a Racist”
5/22/202649 min
There will be a variety of celebrations to honor America’s two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary this year. Much of it is to be expected: fireworks, red, white, and blue lights, even a military parade. But something else is happening, something that probably wouldn’t occur if anyone other than Donald Trump were President. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premier league for mixed martial arts, is staging a fight at the White House. The U.F.C. was founded in 1993, and exploded in popularity after Dana White took over as president of the company, in 2001. He’s also been friends with Donald Trump for a quarter century, and spoke on the President’s behalf at all three Republican National Conventions where Trump was the nominee. He’s stumped for him at rallies, and Trump even called him up to speak at his victory celebration on Election Night in 2024. David Remnick and White discuss his remarkable rise to prominence, and his relationship with the increasingly unpopular President. “He’s not a racist,” White tells Remnick. “He’s not a fascist. He loves this country. And if you’re an American—race, religion, whatever it is—President Trump is on your team, that I guarantee you.”
Further reading:
- “Donald Trump’s U.F.C. Victory Party,” by Sam Eagan
- “Cage-Fighting During a Pandemic: Is This the Future of Sports?,” by Kelefa Sanneh
- “Fighting for Trump: The U.F.C. Comes to New York City,” by Kelefa Sanneh
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Dana White· Guest1:01
[upbeat music] The New Yorker Radio Hour is a co-production of WNYC and The New Yorker.
David Remnick· Host1:09
Welcome to The New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick. [upbeat music] There will be a variety of celebrations to honor America's 250th anniversary this year, and much of it can be easily anticipated: plenty of fireworks, buildings bathed in red, white, and blue lights, even a military parade.