Dana White gave pre-recorded comments in support of Donald Trump’s re-election for President of the United States at the Republican National Convention.
White gave a partisan, biting speech that lobbied for the re-election of Trump. He referred to major issues that the Republican party hopes to impress upon for November’s election. This included the notion that people want to defund the police and that no one could have predicted the pandemic. Both assertions are misrepresentations. White noted that Trump wanted entertainment back amid the pandemic and stated that the UFC was the first sport to come back. This is also a mistruth as Endeavor’s own Professional Bullriders’ Association and Cornhole returned prior to the UFC’s may return.
White noted that he was one of those serving on an ad hoc commission to bring back sports to society – something Trump lauded in press conference and that no one recalls because it was not brought up until White did on Thursday night.
Dana White, UFC President: "Let's re-elect President Trump. Let's figure out what the problems are and continue to find solutions." #RNC2020 https://t.co/5zxXNI8eVe pic.twitter.com/3Q4r8teqgP
— The Hill (@thehill) August 28, 2020
Also not mentioned during his speech was that a part of the civil unrest was due in part to societal issues with the police and the Black Lives Matter movement. This was something that White refrained to address back in June and proclaimed not to know about.
Payout Perspective:
White bragged to press prior to his remarks on Thursday night that he did not care what people think about his shilling for the president. This is true. Things are going great for the UFC and the ratings on ESPN have showed that the brand is one of the success stories in returning from the pandemic. And while NBA players are getting criticized for a work stoppage in light of social issues, White openly praises the president despite glaring issues ongoing in the country. At a time when the company could remain agnostic to politics, White ran to the right. Perhaps as a sign of loyalty but maybe more of an f you to the establishment he portrays himself against when he dons a “Rage Against the Machine” shirt, White unabashedly stumps for Trump who saved his fledgling organization years and years ago. In the short term, this will have no affect on his business or the brand, but the long-term affects might be something to consider.
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