Donald Trump has been seen multiple times at UFC events, walking into the arena amid thunderous cheers from the crowd at most venues. His close relationship with Dana White is well-known, to the point of White delivering a passionate speech at the RNC 2024.
How Did Dana White and Donald Trump’s Friendship Begin?
In 2001, when most places in America would not agree to host a cage-fighting event, Trump allowed one at his billion-dollar Trump Taj Mahal. It happened after then-Senator John McCain of Arizona called the sport “human cockfighting” in a 1996 letter to all 50 state governors urging them not to allow MMA to be legally sanctioned.
However, Trump took a chance on the UFC a month after Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta purchased it and made White the organization’s new president. Within seven months, the UFC was welcomed in Las Vegas, and four years later, the SpikeTV deal went through.
In 2004, Trump welcomed Tito Ortiz, one of the UFC’s most prominent early stars, onto the first season of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”
White and Trump remained close friends over the years. The UFC CEO has repeatedly said he will always be grateful for what Trump did.
“I would never say anything negative about Donald Trump because he was there when other people weren’t,” Dana White told Hill.TV co-host Krystal Ball during a 2018 interview.
“Any good thing that happened to me in my career, Donald Trump was the first to pick up the phone and call and say ‘congratulations,’ ” he continued.
White spoke at Trump’s pre-election rally at Madison Square Garden, thanking Joe Rogan, NELK Boys, Adin Ross, and Theo Von for the Trump victory. He also spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention and later at Trump’s inauguration rally.
Trump has attended multiple UFC events, from UFC 244 in 2019 to present the inaugural BMF belt. He also attended UFC 309 and watched Jon Jones defeat Stipe Miocic dominantly. At UFC 314, he was at the cage-side with Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, and other dignitaries of his entourage, fresh after a second election win.
Most recently, Trump walked out at UFC 316 to watch Merab Dvalishvili defend his belt against Sean O’Malley at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
How about THAT for an entrance?! #UFC316
The bossman takes his seat alongside Donald Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3EEVNVhSHw
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 8, 2025
Donald Trump and Joe Rogan’s Relationship
While Trump does not have a decades-long relationship with Rogan, they have recently been acquainted thanks to the UFC CEO.
White internally set up Trump’s historic podcast episode with Rogan right before the Nov. 2024 elections, which many believed significantly influenced the outcome. Trump shook Rogan’s hands and looked friendly in interaction at UFC 314.