Meta adds Trump ally and UFC boss Dana White to its board

Meta appointed three new members to its board of directors, including Dana White, president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and familiar figure in the orbit of the future president Donald Trump.

The social media company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has also added auto magnate John Elkann and technology investor Charlie Songhurst, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. Facebook post late Monday.

White’s invitation to the board could be seen as Zuckerberg’s latest move to improve relations with Trump, who has been once banned from Facebook. After Trump won re-election in November, Zuckerberg had lunch at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump. inauguration fund. Other major tech companies, such as Amazon, have donated similar amounts.

Trump is a longtime UFC fan and frequent participant in major fights.

His ties to White began in 2001, when White hosted a UFC event at the former Republican hotel-casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump has also appeared with White at UFC matches over the years, most notably in his 2024 campaign as part of an effort to attract younger male voters.

White, in turn, has spoken at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions, and also appeared on stage at Trump’s election victory party in November, even briefly interacting with the crowd.

Pair was present UFC pay-per-view card after the election at Madison Square Garden, where fans cheered as organizers showed highlight videos of Trump’s path to retaking the White House.