Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a known supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, is set to join the board of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. His appointment comes just two weeks before Trump assumes office and is part of a broader effort by Silicon Valley to establish a cooperative relationship with the incoming administration after a historically tense relationship marked by accusations of anti-conservative bias directed at tech companies like Meta.
White’s joining Meta follows significant financial contributions to Trump’s inauguration fund by major tech leaders, including Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, each donating $1 million. Additionally, Mark Zuckerberg has been meeting with Trump, including social dinners at Mar-a-Lago after the election. Recently, Meta appointed Joel Kaplan, a Republican with a background in George W. Bush’s White House, as its new head of global policy.
White has long maintained a friendship with Trump, having spoken at the Republican National Convention and participated in Trump’s inaugural TikTok video. On election night, he was seen alongside Trump at his victory celebration, acknowledging the role of various podcasters and influencers in enhancing Trump’s popularity, particularly among younger male demographics.
In a statement about his new role, White expressed his enthusiasm for social media and artificial intelligence, noting that he had previously been uninterested in board positions until the opportunity with Meta arose. He mentioned discussions with Zuckerberg about leveraging AI to enhance UFC ranking systems.
Meta’s board is being expanded from 10 to 13 members with White’s addition, which also includes prominent figures like John Elkann, CEO of Ekon and executive chair of Stellantis and Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor formerly with Microsoft. Zuckerberg characterized the expanding board as a strategic move to capitalize on forthcoming opportunities in AI, wearables, and the evolving landscape of social media.
This development not only signifies a shift in how tech and politics may interact moving forward but also emphasizes the potential for collaboration among leaders in different industries.
Summary: Dana White, UFC president and Trump supporter, joins Meta’s board as Silicon Valley seeks closer ties with the new administration. Alongside significant donations to Trump’s inauguration, White’s confirmed role underscores both his influence and the strategic direction Meta is pursuing in technology and social media.
This positive spin highlights the potential for growth and innovation that White’s involvement may bring to Meta, suggesting a bright future for both the company and its initiatives in AI and social media enhancement.