UFC Boss to Join Meta's Board of Directors

The Meta Company has opened up spots for the appointment of three new members to the board, including Dana White, the Chief Executive Officer of Major League Sports Enterprises Ultimate Fighting Championship who is also a close ally of Donald Trump.

The new board appointments come when it seems Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta has tried to mend his ties with Trump in light of the new U. S. president-elect set to be inaugurated later this month-close from where he hails.

A former deputy prime minister of the UK and chairman of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Nick Clegg has just resigned after serving as Meta's president of global affairs.

Other new entrants and additions to the board are nurtured by Meta with other names such as John Elkann, current head of Exor-the European investment firm, and Charlie Songhurst, a former executive with Microsoft.

"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 Zuckerberg in a statement.

The social media giant also commended White for his role in transforming UFC into a global enterprise.

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

White has previously dismissed any claims that UFC platforms promote hate speech, emphasizing his support for free speech.

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

"People can say whatever they want and they can believe whatever they want," White retorted.

The UFC president has maintained a close relationship with Trump for decades.

White's appointment comes after it was announced that Sir Nick would be replaced at Meta by his deputy, the well-known Republican Joel Kaplan, who has managed the company's interactions with the Republican Party.

In recent months, there has been a noticeable warming of relations between Meta and Trump.

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

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

However, the president-elect later softened his stance, mentioning in an October podcast that it was "nice" Zuckerberg was "staying out of the election," and expressing gratitude for a personal phone call after he survived an assassination attempt.

Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago and dined with Trump after his electoral win in November. Earlier this month, he also donated $1 million to the president-elect's inauguration fund.