Trump’s 25-Year Friendship With Dana White Exposed as UFC Insiders Reveal the Truth Behind Their Unusual Bond

Donald Trump’s close relationship with UFC president Dana White dates back more than 25 years, with insiders revealing how their association developed from a business partnership into a friendship that has increasingly influenced American politics and sports.

The relationship has attracted renewed attention following Trump’s reported offer to White to become his Press Secretary, a surprising move that has highlighted the extent of the president’s trust in the UFC boss.

A Friendship That Began at the Trump Taj Mahal

The roots of their relationship can be traced to November 2000, when UFC 28 took place at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

At the time, the UFC was struggling to establish itself as a legitimate sporting organisation.

The sport had been banned in 36 states, faced criticism from lawmakers who described it as ‘human cockfighting’ and struggled to secure venues for its events.

White attended UFC 28 as the manager of fighter John Lewis. He was accompanied by casino-owning brothers Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, who had trained in jiu-jitsu under Lewis.

The three men recognised the commercial potential of the sport, and their involvement would soon change its direction.

Two months later, Zuffa LLC purchased the UFC for $2 million and appointed White as its president.

The organisation subsequently reached an agreement with Trump to host events at the Taj Mahal after encountering difficulties securing suitable venues.

Trump later acknowledged his involvement in helping the promotion find locations for its events.

“They couldn’t get a venue because of the danger, you know,” he previously said.

“People thought it was dangerous… and I gave them venues early on.”

UFC Historian Challenges Claims About Their Early Relationship

Lavie Margolin, author of Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC’s Road to the White House, has examined the history of the relationship and challenged some accounts of their earliest encounters.

White has previously suggested that Trump attended the UFC’s first Atlantic City event and remained until the final fight.

However, Margolin said available footage from UFC 28, UFC 30 and UFC 31 does not show Trump in attendance.

“Dana White has said many times that Donald Trump came for the first fight and stayed till the last fight,” Margolin explained.

“But if you watch UFC 28, 30, 31 – you can’t find a picture with him. You don’t see him on screen at all.”

According to Margolin, White may have been referring to UFC 32, which took place in June 2001 at the Continental Airlines Arena.

That event marked the first time Trump was visibly shown sitting cageside during a UFC broadcast.

His presence was significant because he was already a prominent real estate businessman known for hosting major sporting events, including WrestleMania and Mike Tyson fights.

Trump Became More Than a Business Associate to White

Although their relationship reportedly became less visible in the years following their early business dealings, the friendship continued.

White later described Trump as one of his closest friends, telling ESPN that he was among just 10 people in his innermost circle.

Margolin believes their relationship developed beyond professional interests and suggests Trump also became an important authority figure in White’s life.

He pointed to accounts in a book written by White’s mother, which reportedly described difficulties in her son’s upbringing.

Margolin noted that Trump, who is 23 years older than White, may have occupied a father-figure position in the UFC president’s life.

Their friendship also continued through small personal gestures.

During Ronda Rousey’s rise to mainstream popularity around 2012 and 2013, Trump reportedly cut newspaper profiles of the fighter from The New York Times and mailed them to White with handwritten congratulatory messages.

White’s Support During Trump’s 2016 Presidential Campaign

Their relationship entered a new phase when Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2016.

White became one of Trump’s prominent supporters and addressed the Republican National Convention in support of his candidacy.

Margolin identified UFC staff member Stephen Cheung as an important figure in strengthening the connection between Trump’s political activities and the fighting community.

Cheung joined the organisation around the time of Trump’s first presidential campaign and understood how to present the former businessman to audiences beyond mainstream political media.

Margolin credited him with helping coordinate Trump’s appearances at UFC events and improving his familiarity with fighters, their backgrounds and ongoing storylines.

The strategy also helped Trump connect with podcast audiences, male-oriented online communities and influential personalities such as Joe Rogan.

Rogan’s eventual endorsement of Trump became one of the notable cultural moments surrounding the 2024 presidential election.

Margolin said the endorsement demonstrated the growing political influence of personalities outside traditional media platforms.

Dana White Remained Loyal After January 6

White’s support for Trump continued even after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, when several businesses and public figures distanced themselves from the president.

Rather than removing Trump from UFC promotional activities, White continued associating with him publicly and bringing him to events.

Trump subsequently became a regular presence at UFC competitions, where he was frequently seen alongside prominent personalities and fighters.

The relationship also helped establish the UFC as an important platform for Trump’s engagement with sports audiences.

UFC Fighters Reveal Their Personal Experiences With Trump

Trump’s connection with the UFC extends beyond White, with several fighters also describing personal relationships with the president.

Justin Gaethje, who headlined the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, spoke about Trump’s enthusiasm for mixed martial arts.

“I can’t explain to people how big of a fan [Trump] is of this sport,” Gaethje told the Daily Mail.

He added that Trump frequently wanted to discuss fighting and credited him with helping the UFC during its early struggles to secure venues.

Gaethje also expressed admiration for the president, describing him as a winner.

Bo Nickal, another fighter who competed on the Freedom 250 undercard, recalled meeting Trump in 2019 after winning an NCAA wrestling championship.

Nickal and other wrestlers were invited to the White House, where he had an opportunity to speak with Trump about his plans to pursue a professional fighting career.

According to Nickal, Trump was interested enough to ask about becoming his manager.

Their relationship continued after Nickal began competing in the UFC.

He recalled seeing Trump in attendance at one of his early fights, exchanging a nod with him after winning and subsequently receiving an invitation to play golf.

Nickal said the experience gave him an opportunity to have a normal conversation with the president, whom he described as humble and genuine.

White House UFC Event Faced Legal Challenge

The UFC’s relationship with Trump reached another milestone with UFC Freedom 250, which was hosted on the White House South Lawn in July 2026.

The event took place during the weekend of Trump’s 80th birthday and formed part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

However, the planned competition attracted legal opposition.

A federal lawsuit filed shortly before the event described it as a “volcano of corruption” and challenged the organisation of what was described as the first private, for-profit sporting event held on White House grounds.

A federal judge rejected the attempt to stop the event, pointing to the UFC’s reported $60 million investment and noting that the plaintiffs had waited until two weeks after visible construction had begun before seeking emergency intervention.

The competition subsequently went ahead as planned.

Trump’s Press Secretary Offer Raises New Questions

Trump’s reported decision to offer White the position of Press Secretary has brought their longstanding friendship back into the spotlight.

The offer reportedly included opportunities for several UFC fighters, among them Russian fighters Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as UFC star Justin Gaethje.

The development represents another unusual intersection between Trump’s political administration and the mixed martial arts organisation.

However, it remains unclear whether White will accept the position or whether the reported offer will translate into an official appointment.

The proposed move follows a relationship that began when the UFC was struggling to find venues for its competitions and has since developed into a prominent personal and political association.

From the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City to a major UFC event on the White House lawn, the connection between Trump and White has continued to evolve over more than two decades.