Who is Dana White? Trump friend, UFC Pres. amps up RNC. What he said.

Ultimate Fighting Championship president and CEO Dana White, spoke right before former President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention Thursday night, revving up the crowd.

“I’m in the tough guy business, and this guy is the toughest most resilient human being I have ever met in my life,” White said.

A Connecticut native White is the head of the UFC, a premier mixed martial arts promotion company, has been a longtime supporter of Trump for over two decades, endorsing the Republican nominee in two previous presidential races, 2016 and 2020.

White began his speech acknowledging his 25-year friendship with Trump.

“That’s the President Trump that I know, a man who truly cares about people,” he said, after reading an excerpt of a text from Trump, where he expressed concern for White missing part of his family vacation to speak at the RNC. “The mainstream media likes to push the narrative that he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Absolutely no, that’s not the truth because I’ve been friends with this guy for 25 years.”

How do Trump and Dana White know each other?

Trump and White’s public friendship dates back to 2001. At that time, the public image of the UFC had been tainted by a crusade led by the late John McCain, who called mixed martial arts “human cockfighting.”

The fight promotion was having trouble acquiring venues for its events, White said in a 2022 podcast interview. It was then that Trump called the UFC and offered the casino-hotel Trump Taj Mahal, now called the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, as a venue.

The UFC’s biggest events that year, UFC 31 and 32, were held at the then-known Trump Taj Mahal. White said he credits his much of his success after that point to Trump.

Trump has since appeared at multiple UFC events.

What did Dana White say about Trump during the RNC 2024?

White said that Trump wants what is best for the American people and is fighting to save the American Dream.

“I know President Trump is literally putting his life on the line for something bigger than himself,” White said, referencing the assassination attempt last weekend.

“We all know he doesn’t need this. This guy’s got a great life, he has a beautiful family and he has achieved everything that you could possibly achieve in life,” White said. “He’s willing to risk it all because he loves this country … he’s running for president to save our American dream.”

White called America the “last real land of opportunity” both for people who were born here and who moved here. But, said that dream is under threat from government red tape, crime, and the struggle to pay bills.

“I know that President Trump is fighting to save the American Dream, and that’s what’s at stake in this election. We are choosing who we want to lead us in this fight. I know President Trump is a proven leader, a fearless leader, and this country was in a much better place when he was in the Oval Office,” White said.

Is Dana White a billionaire?

White is not a billionaire, although he is supposedly halfway there.

White has an estimated net worth of $500 million. He also earns a $20 million yearly salary.

White ended his speech by introducing Trump as the soon-to-be 47 president of the United States.

How to watch and stream 2024 RNC

The RNC will livestream events across multiple online platforms.

USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube tonight.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.