Mark Zuckerberg is desperate to make amends with Donald Trump and the movement he represents.
The Meta CEO, who has spent the last decade censoring conservatives and supporters of the president-elect, has appointed UFC President and fervent Trump supporter Dana White to the company’s board.
Bloomberg notes:
White, 55, also a Zuckerberg friend, has expanded UFC into one of the world’s most popular sports and entertainment businesses.
Zuckerberg, an avid mixed martial arts fan and a recreational fighter, posted a picture on Instagram alongside White from a UFC fight in February, and White sought Zuckerberg’s advice on incorporating AI into UFC’s rankings system last year.
White was also a vocal supporter of Trump during his 2024 campaign, speaking at the Republican National Convention in the summer and at Trump’s election-night event.
White appeared in Trump’s first TikTok video, and has been credited with helping raise his profile among young male voters.
Also appointed to the board and Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft executive, and John Elkann, CEO of the investment firm Exor NV.
Charlie, Dana, and John will add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables, and the future of human connection,” Zuckerberg said in a statement.
White acknowledged the appointment on the X platform, saying he loves social media and was “excited to be a small part of the future of AI and emerging technologies.”
I love social media. And I’m excited to be a small part of the future of AI and emerging technologies. @Meta pic.twitter.com/Amh5W728og
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 6, 2025
Zuckerberg’s decision comes days after he sacked Nick Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister who was serving as the company’s president for global affairs, and replaced him with a longtime Republican insider.
During his tenure, Clegg became one of the most prominent public faces of the company’s aggressive censorship regime against Trump and the MAGA movement in the wake of the January 6th protests.
“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for Meta and the world these past seven years,” Zuckerberg said on his departure.
I’ve learned so much working with you and our whole team is better for having this opportunity.
Clegg has been replaced by Joel Kaplan, who served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush.
According to Semafor, Kaplan has long been “one of the most forceful voices inside Meta against restrictions on political speech, arguing internally that such policies would disproportionately mute conservative voices.”
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