UFC CEO Dana White has dismissed concerns that the promotion’s upcoming White House event carries excessive partisan overtones, comparing President Donald Trump’s affinity for mixed martial arts to previous administrations’ relationships with other sports.
“I don’t know how it would be too political other than it’s at the White House,” White said in a recent interview when asked about reservations some athletes have expressed. “If you look back throughout history, I think George Bush was a big baseball fan, Obama was an NBA fan, and Trump is a UFC fan. I don’t think that any of those guys being fans made any sport too political.”
White’s characterization of the historic event as simply a sports enthusiast hosting his preferred entertainment has drawn sharp rebuke from MMA analyst Luke Thomas, who argues the UFC president cannot credibly distance himself from years of deeply partisan activity.
“I can’t think of a more overt political actor among any major important figure in the entirety of North American sports,” Thomas stated on his podcast, challenging White’s recent attempts to portray himself as moderate.
The analyst systematically outlined White’s support for Trump during critical moments, including providing high-profile platforms at UFC events following legal proceedings in 2023 and 2024.
Thomas characterized the White House event as calculated recognition for services rendered rather than casual fandom. “It is a political reward for the role that the UFC played in rehabilitating Donald Trump,” he explained. “The UFC was more instrumental in that role than virtually anything else.”
The analyst highlighted how White granted Trump prominent visibility at UFC 287 in March 2023, UFC 290 in June 2023, and UFC 302 in May 2024, each appearance strategically timed during periods of legal scrutiny. “At those key moments, it was the UFC under his leadership providing rehabilitation, providing visibility,” Thomas argued.
Beyond personal appearances, Thomas noted White’s participation at three consecutive Republican National Conventions and his selection to introduce Trump on election night 2024, a role typically reserved for family members.
White has previously attempted to moderate his public image, stating in a podcast that he’s “not really even that political” and claiming he’s “probably not as far right as everybody thinks I am.” He even suggested he “considered myself to be liberal” before “the world lost its mind.”
Thomas rejected these assertions as incompatible with White’s documented actions. He dismissed explanations that White was merely reciprocating Trump’s early support of the UFC through hosting events at Atlantic City properties, noting the promotion didn’t achieve profitability until years later with the TUF television show.
The analyst also addressed claims that donations to both parties demonstrate neutrality, observing that contributions since 2020 have flowed predominantly in one direction.
“MMA is not just a right wing sport, it’s an aggressively right wing sport,” Thomas stated, describing the UFC as central to Trump’s coalition.
Regarding the White House event itself, Thomas was unambiguous: “It’s definitely sports. I mean, it’s 100% sports washing. It’s not anything else.” He added that Trump “is very good about rewarding people in his orbit. He is rewarding the UFC with this kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity that basically no other sports league could ever possibly dream of getting.”
Thomas noted that former UFC employees now hold White House positions, further cementing the relationship between the administration and the promotion.
Thomas concluded that regardless of White’s current self-characterization, the UFC CEO remains inseparable from the political movement he helped advance. “Whatever happens with this MAGA experiment, whether democracy goes away, whether authoritarianism creeps up, whether we get economic ruin, Dana helped make all of this possible,” he declared, adding that White will be “connected to this political project for the rest of history.”
