HomeFinanceEntrepreneurUFC boss to join...

UFC boss to join board of Facebook owner Meta

Meta has announced the appointment of three new board members including the chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and close Donald Trump ally, Dana White.

It comes as Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, appears to be making efforts to mend ties with Trump, ahead of the US president-elect’s inauguration this month.

Days ago former UK deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Nick Clegg left his job as president of global affairs at the social media giant.

The other new members of Meta’s board include John Elkann, who leads European investment firm Exor, and Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive.

“Dana, John and Charlie will add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with [artificial intelligence], wearables and the future of human connection,” said Mr Zuckerberg in a statement.

The social media giant also praised Mr White’s role in turning UFC into a global business.

In a post on Meta’s Instagram, Mr White said he loves social media and is “excited to be a small part of the future of [artificial intelligence] and emerging technologies.”

Mr White has previously rejected any suggestion that UFC platforms hate speech, insisting he supports free speech.

A year ago his tense exchange with a reporter who questioned why he allowed fighters to make anti-LGBT remarks went viral.

“People can say whatever they want and they can believe whatever they want,” Mr White retorted.

The UFC boss has had a close relationship with Trump for decades.

Mr White’s appointment follows news that Sir Nick was being replaced at Meta by his deputy, prominent Republican Joel Kaplan, who has handled relations between the social media firm and the Republican Party.

There has been an apparent thawing between Meta and Trump in recent months.

Relations had been frosty at least since Trump was barred from Facebook and Instagram following the US Capitol riot in January 2021.

In August, Trump wrote in a book that Mr Zuckerberg would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he attempted to interfere in the 2024 US election.

But the president-elect later softened his position, telling a podcast in October it was “nice” that Mr Zuckerberg was “staying out of the election”, and thanking him for a personal phone call after he faced an assassination attempt.

Mr Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago and had dinner with Trump after his electoral victory in November. Earlier this month, he donated $1m (£800,000) to the president-elect’s inauguration fund.

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Most Popular

More from Author

Kinh Bac Agriculture with the mission of bringing e-commerce closer to farmers

E-commerce is exploding and spreading across all fields, including agriculture, boosting...

Cuddles and coffee on the menu at a pet rescue café

Located in HCM City, WagWel stands out as a pet café...

Rice paper craft village in Tiền Giang prepares for Tết

Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province...

Thailand-Pakistan trade talks revived after decade

Between January and November 2024, trade between the two nations reached...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Read Now

Kinh Bac Agriculture with the mission of bringing e-commerce closer to farmers

E-commerce is exploding and spreading across all fields, including agriculture, boosting businesses to invest in their technology and develop their online retailing channels. This is not just a trend but a necessity that helps businesses seize opportunities, expand markets, and enhance their competitiveness. With the support of...

Cuddles and coffee on the menu at a pet rescue café

Located in HCM City, WagWel stands out as a pet café system that also functions as a sanctuary, offering abandoned dogs and cats a fresh start in a safe and loving environment. Quỳnh Anh Pet cafes have become a global craze, beloved by many for years. At these cafes, customers...

Rice paper craft village in Tiền Giang prepares for Tết

Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province during the year-end days, one can feel the vibrant atmosphere of the rice paper craft village as locals busily prepare for Tết. TIỀN GIANG — Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province during the...

Thailand-Pakistan trade talks revived after decade

Between January and November 2024, trade between the two nations reached US$1.031 billion, with Thailand exporting goods worth $781.36 million and importing $250.40 million in products such as seafood, crude oil, and textiles. BANGKOK — Thailand and Pakistan have agreed to restart discussions under their Joint Trade Committee (JTC)...

Thailand adjusts target for Asian visitors

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a target of welcoming 2 million visitors from the RoK in 2025, up from 1.8 million in 2024. BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is revising its target for Asian visitors this year, focusing on potential markets to counter a...

Films by Indian-origin filmmakers earn top nods at BAFTA Awards 2025 [Upd 1]

The nominations for the coveted British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2025 are finally out. NEW DELHI – The nominations for the coveted British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2025 are finally out. As per expectations, Payal Kapadia’s ground-breaking directorial All We Imagine as Light is in the run for the Best Foreign Language...

Trump signs executive orders pulling US out of WHO, Paris climate accord

Trump also signed a few other executive orders in front of the crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington DC, just a few hours after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, including the revocation of nearly 80 executive orders from the Biden administration. WASHINGTON...

President Trump vows new US ‘golden age’ as second term begins

"The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world," Trump said in the Capitol, where the inauguration was held indoors for the first time in decades, due to freezing weather. WASHINGTON — Donald...

New books celebrate Tết

A series of new books featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle have been released to celebrate the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival in the Year of the Snake, which begins on January 29. HCM CITY — A series of new books featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle have been released to celebrate the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival in...

Craft villages, cuisine, and folk arts: Gen Z’s journey to preserve heritage

Gen Z is leading the charge in safeguarding Vietnam’s cultural heritage with "Net Viet Nam," a project blending modern storytelling with traditional values. The "Net Viet Nam" project connects Gen Z with traditional Vietnamese culture through immersive journeys exploring craft villages, cuisine, and national heritage. Through authentic videos,...

G4 ambassadors sing in Vietnamese to celebrate Tet with a heartfelt message

Singing in Vietnamese, the G4 ambassadors delivered a heartfelt performance of “Năm qua đã làm gì” at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, wishing the Vietnamese people a happy and harmonious Tet. The G4 ambassadors to Vietnam, representing Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, delivered a heartwarming Tet performance of...

Prime Minister to host real estate conference with major developers

A nationwide conference chaired by the Prime Minister will bring together government leaders and major real estate enterprises to advance social housing and market reforms. The Ministry of Construction has proposed that the Prime Minister host a conference to promote social housing development and ensure a healthy, sustainable...