The UFC’s CEO Dana White and lead commentator Joe Rogan were honored guests at President-elect Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration festivities on Sunday.
A day ahead of Monday’s closed-door ceremony in Washington DC, the country’s once-and-future Commander in Chief is pictured on White’s Instagram page alongside Rogan and the MMA promoter.
All three are seen in tuxedos at the black-tie affair, which is a slight departure from earlier in the day, when White spoke at Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again Victory Rally’ at the Capital One Arena.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon,’ Trump’s long-time supporter and friend began. ‘I am honored to be here to celebrate President Trump’s historic victory. He didn’t just win this election. He won it in dominant fashion with record numbers of Americans from all walks of life.’
White focused the early part of his speech on Trump’s 312-226 electoral college victory over Kamala Harris and his 1.5-percent edge in the popular vote.
‘Not only did he win the electoral college by 86 points, but President Trump was the first Republican candidate in 20 years to win the popular vote,’ White continued. ‘He also made tremendous gains among traditional Democrat voters by increasing his support with Latin, Asian-American, black and young voters.
A day ahead of Monday’s closed-door ceremony in Washington DC , the country’s once-and-future Commander in Chief is pictured alongside Rogan and White
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‘So what does that tell us?’ White asked, rhetorically. ‘Democracy is alive and well in this country. And the people have spoke loud and clear: America wants President Trump back in the White House.’
White also portrayed Trump as a hero for overcoming the media, legal system, and even an assassin’s bullet during his campaign.
‘Think about this, winning this election after everything that’s happened over the last few years is an amazing achievement and an incredible comeback story,’ White said. ‘Think of all the things President Trump had to go through to get back here, all the powerful forces that tried to take him down: the mainstream media, partisan prosecutors, assassins.
‘It’s absolutely insane what this man has been through. And only President Trump could have fought through all those obstacles, all the attacks and still come out the winner.
‘But you know what?’ White continued. ‘That’s just what he is. This guy is a winner.
‘I say this all the time: He is the toughest, most resilient person that I have ever met. And nothing was going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country he loves. He embodies what being an American is all about. We are the toughest, most resilient people on earth. And nothing can stop us when we unite.’
White ended the speech by encouraging Trump’s critics to support the incoming President.
‘The fate of this country is tied to the fate of the President, so if you love America, you should want America’s President to be successful,’ he said. ‘If he strengthens our economy, resolves conflict around the world, and makes our streets safe again, we all win.’
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WHITE’S SPEECH AT TRUMP’S MAGA VICTORY RALLY IN DC
The following is a transcript of UFC President and CEO Dana White speaking to the crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington DC on Sunday, January 19:
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am honored to be here to celebrate President Trump’s historic victory.
He didn’t just win this election. He won it in dominant fashion with record numbers of Americans from all walks of life. Not only did he win the electoral college by 86 points, but President Trump was the first Republican candidate in 20 years to win the popular vote.
He also made tremendous gains among traditional Democrat voters by increasing his support with Latin, Asian-American, black and young voters. So what does that tell us? Democracy is alive and well in this country. And the people have spoke loud and clear: America wants President Trump back in the White House.
Think about this, winning this election after everything that’s happened over the last few years is an amazing achievement and an incredible comeback story. Think of all the things President Trump had to go through to get back here, all the powerful forces that tried to take him down: the mainstream media, partisan prosecutors, assassins. It’s absolutely insane what this man has been through. And only President Trump could have fought through all those obstacles, all the attacks and still come out the winner.
But you know what? That’s just what he is. This guy is a winner.
I say this all the time: He is the toughest, most resilient person that I have ever met. And nothing was going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country he loves.
He embodies what being an American is all about. We are the toughest, most resilient people on earth. And nothing can stop us when we unite.
White spoke at Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again Victory Rally’ at the Capital One Arena
To all those Americans who didn’t vote for President Trump, and all they know about him is what they hear from the mainstream media, I just want to let you know he has been an incredibly loyal friend to me for two decades. And not once has he ever asked me for anything in return.
He’s proven again and again how tough he is. But he’s also a man who truly cares about people.
Everything that has ever happened to me in my career, he’s been the first one to reach out and congratulate me. And more importantly, in the hard times, he’s been the first one to reach out and let me know if there’s anything I need, and all this at a time when he had a laundry list of his own problems he was dealing with.
He is the best human being that I have ever known. So America, it’s time for us all to put our differences aside. And we can’t do that if we continue to focus on all the issues that divide us instead of all the issues that unite us.
The fate of this country is tied to the fate of the President, so if you love America, you should want America’s President to be successful. If he strengthens our economy, resolves conflict around the world, and makes our streets safe again, we all win.
When America’s President is respected around the world, we all win. When America succeeds, we all win.
Now it’s time for us to come together as one nation, the United States. This moment will be a turning point in our history and a triumph for all Americans.
Tomorrow, when Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, the great comeback story begins, and our country starts winning again.
Thank you, America.
White and Trump’s fondness for each other is no secret. Trump has tapped the UFC President and CEO to speak for him at the last three Republican National Conventions, leading many to wonder if he’d serve a greater role in the White House at some point.
‘His base is Trump’s base,’ Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former White House counselor, previously told The New York Times of White. ‘And Trump’s base is his base.’
White, however, has downplayed any potential Trump appointment.
‘Donald Trump is one of my very good friends,’ White told Sports Business Journal through a spokesperson. ‘He did a great job in his last term as president, and I know he will do an even better job the next four years. I have no personal political aspirations.’
Besides, White may provide a greater service to Trump through what The New York Times calls ‘cage-match politics.’ Trump now makes regular cage-side appearances at UFC events, where fight fans — and the fighters themselves — have showered the former President with adulation.