UFC president Dana White once vowed he was finished with politics after helping support President Donald Trump, calling the political world “gross” and “disgusting.” But comments he made this week suggest his involvement may not end when Trump leaves the White House.
Speaking with Tomi Lahren on her Tomi Lahren Is Fearless podcast, White was asked whether he plans to step away from political activity after Trump’s presidency or whether he might remain involved as Republicans begin looking ahead to the 2028 election.
The question comes after years of White insisting that politics is not something he particularly enjoys, despite his close friendship with Trump and his willingness to publicly support the president. The two men have maintained a relationship dating back well before Trump entered politics, and White has frequently credited Trump as an early supporter of the UFC during its formative years.
Most recently, White helped stage the Freedom 250 fight card outside the White House as part of celebrations commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday.
During the interview, Lahren noted that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely viewed as leading Republican figures heading into the next presidential cycle. She asked White whether he had a preferred candidate for 2028.
White praised both men but appeared especially enthusiastic when discussing Rubio.
“You know what’s funny is I was leading up to the White House fight and doing all this media,” White said. He recalled being asked repeatedly by members of the media whether he planned to leave politics behind once Trump’s time in office ends.
White said that during one of those interviews he explained that he had developed a close friendship with Rubio.
“We’ve become really close,” White said. “Rubio is a great guy. I like him. He’s smart. I like the way he handles himself and, you know, I’ve met his sons and I like his kids so, you know, never say never.”
While White stopped short of endorsing Rubio or declaring support for any future campaign, his comments represented a notable departure from previous statements in which he insisted he wanted no further role in politics after helping Trump.
In a 2024 interview with The New Yorker, White expressed frustration with the political process and suggested he was eager to leave it behind once Trump’s political career concluded.
“I’m never fcking doing this again,” White said at the time. “I want nothing to do with this sht. It’s gross. It’s disgusting.”
Even earlier this year, White continued to emphasize that he does not consider himself deeply political. During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, he argued that his involvement stemmed largely from his personal relationship with Trump rather than any broader desire to participate in politics.
That makes his latest comments particularly noteworthy.
Although White laughed off suggestions that he was formally backing Rubio for president, he acknowledged that his friendship with the secretary of state has grown significantly.
“People are asking me if I’m out of politics when the president leaves,” White said. “I just said, I’ve become very close to Rubio.”
“He and I have become friends,” he added.
Whether those remarks signal future political involvement remains unclear. White did not announce any plans to support a candidate or participate in a future campaign.
Still, after years of describing politics as a world he wanted to leave behind, his willingness to openly discuss potential future involvement suggests the door may not be completely closed. As Republicans begin looking beyond the current administration and toward the next presidential contest, White’s comments indicate that even some of politics’ most reluctant participants may find it difficult to stay entirely on the sidelines.