Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a long-time confidant of President-elect Donald Trump, is joining Meta’s board—a move that comes just two weeks before the new Trump administration takes office.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, known for having a somewhat rocky relationship with Trump during his previous term, made the announcement on Facebook. In his post, Zuckerberg praised White’s efforts in elevating the UFC into a tremendously successful and widely loved sports franchise globally.
“I’ve always admired Dana as an entrepreneur for his ability to foster such a beloved brand,” Zuckerberg noted.
For some years now, Zuckerberg has shown a keen interest in mixed martial arts, attending numerous UFC events, which reflects his growing passion for the sport. An incident in 2023 highlights this enthusiasm: Zuckerberg sustained an ACL injury while sparring in preparation for a competitive MMA bout. During the same period, he and Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, engaged in a spirited exchange, contemplating a fight that Dana White would potentially oversee. However, Zuckerberg later dismissed the idea, claiming Musk wasn’t taking it seriously.
In November, White took the stage with Trump on election night, following Trump’s decisive win.
“This is what happens when they try to bring you down,” White remarked after Trump introduced him. “You’ve witnessed the struggle these past years, and yet, he’s unstoppable, never gives up. He’s the most determined, hardworking individual I’ve ever encountered.”
Meta revealed last month that it had contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Also noteworthy is Zuckerberg’s visit to Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, after the election.
White, who has been at the helm of the UFC since 2001, found himself amid controversy two years ago when TMZ released a video of him slapping his wife at a New Year’s Eve event in Mexico. He later offered a public apology, with his wife, Anne White, describing it as an isolated incident in her statement to TMZ.
Musk’s past interactions with the UFC include joining Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group board in 2021, which owns UFC under TKO Group Holdings. Musk departed the board after a year.
In addition to White, Meta’s board welcomes new members such as John Elkann, CEO of Italian holding entity Exor, and Charlie Songhurst, former head of corporate strategy at Microsoft, according to Zuckerberg.
Elkann chairs Exor’s automotive ventures, Stellantis and Ferrari, while Songhurst has spent the last year working with Meta’s advisory group, focusing on AI and technology strategies, Zuckerberg added.
Looking ahead, Zuckerberg expressed excitement about the expansive opportunities in AI, wearables, and the evolution of social media, noting that the board will be instrumental in realizing these ambitions.
