UFC president Dana White was the final speaker before Donald Trump accepted the GOP presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night.
And while it’s typical for a family member to introduce the final final speaker, White is pretty close to that — he just doesn’t have the Trump name.
In his speech, the 54-year-old told Republican Party members that the stakes have never been higher.
“I know he wants what’s best for the American people — all American people,” White said.
“I know President Trump is fighting to save the American dream and that’s what’s at stake in this election.”
White continued, saying the country was in a better place when Trump was president and he is the right choice to lead once again.
“I know I’m going to choose strength and security,” White declared. “I know I’m going to choose opportunity and prosperity. I know I’m going to choose real American leadership and a real American badass.”
White, who was on his way to Italy with his wife when he learned about the assassination attempt on Trump, noted that his “friend” was more “concerned about interrupting my trip” when he asked him to introduce him at the convention.
“The mainstream media likes to push the narrative that he doesn’t care about anybody but himself,” White said.
“I absolutely know that’s not the truth because I’ve known this guy for 25 years.”
In the early 2000s, UFC was struggling to find its footing as a legitimate sports organization.
Trump routinely featured fights at his former Atlantic casino, then known as Trump Taj Mahal.
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On Thursday night, White clarified: “Nobody in the Trump campaign told me what to say, nobody tells me what to say and I’m nobody’s puppet.”
He added: “I know President Trump as a fighter. I’m in the tough guy business and this guy is the toughest, most resilient I’ve seen in my life.”
“I’ve been saying this forever about this guy,” White said.
“He is one of the toughest, most resilient human beings I’ve ever met in my life. And let me tell you what, everybody wants to act like a tough guy.”