🌊 The Sport That Took Over American Politics

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By Rafael Arbex-Murut

A few weeks ago, protests over immigration enforcement escalated into violent riots in downtown Los Angeles. In response, President Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to protect federal property, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to file a lawsuit challenging the move. Trump and Newsom exchanged jabs on social media – a typical occurrence during a Trump presidency, if not simply modern politics these days.

But notably, Trump wasn’t posting from the White House. Nor was he aboard Air Force One, or even in California, where the protests were taking place. Trump was posting from the Prudential Center, a sports arena in Newark, New Jersey.

Sandwiched between two Truth Social posts regarding the situation in California was a video of Trump walking into the arena with Dana White, the CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC.

So why has Trump been the only sitting president to attend UFC events? And how did Dana White become important enough to earn a prime spot on Trump’s social media feed?

In today’s deep-dive, we look at how mixed martial arts became one of America’s favorite pastimes and how its premier promotion has taken a defining role in modern politics.

The UFC didn’t always enjoy political support. In fact, it once drew political condemnation.

In 1996, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) watched a UFC tape and called it "barbaric" and “not a sport.” He sent letters to all 50 US governors urging them to ban what he called “human cockfighting.” The American Medical Association also recommended a ban on the sport, citing safety issues.

But the UFC found an unlikely ally: Donald Trump. Long before his presidency, Trump the real estate mogul was a combat sports fan. In the early 2000s – when the UFC was banned in over 30 states and major venues refused to host its events – Trump stepped in, offering his Trump Taj Mahal hotel and casino in Atlantic City as a venue. His support helped keep the fledgling promotion afloat. That early act of loyalty sparked a close friendship with UFC President Dana White – a relationship whose political and commercial significance wouldn’t become clear for years to come.

Editor’s Note

Let us know what you think about the mixing of UFC and politics: What do you make of Trump’s attendance at UFC events? Does this make you more or less inclined to support him? Let us know by replying to this email.

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Thanks for reading, and enjoy your Sundays. See you tomorrow.

–Max and Max