Dana: Trump would attend Mayweather-McGregor but afraid he'll ‘ruin the event’
UFC President Dana White revealed that United States President Donald Trump was interested in attending the Mayweather vs. McGregor press conference.
The already-peculiar Mayweather vs. McGregor PPV event almost had Donald Trump as a special guest.
According to UFC president Dana White, the United States commander-in-chief “100 percent” wants to attend the anticipated boxing match between undefeated star Floyd Mayweather and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor but is unlikely to appear due to secret service concerns.
“I don’t think they’ll come, but they’ll be watching.” White stated during a media scrum that followed the first leg of the Mayweather-McGregor press tour in Los Angeles (h/t Washington Post). “He feels like he’ll ruin the event if he shows up. Secret Service is gonna have to go through the place, they’ll have to shut down streets and create crazy traffic.”
White’s friendship with the incumbent president began 16 years ago when the UFC was a polarizing entity still banned on Pay-Per-View. The Trump Taj Mahal hosted two consecutive UFC events, which White later revealed were pivotal to the UFC regaining legitimacy.
In 2016, White stood in front of the Grand Old Party (GOP) Republican National Convention last year and praised Trump in a deafening speech. He was also pictured at the campaign celebration at Trump Towers following the Republican candidate’s victory on election night, which seemingly highlighted White’s close relationship with the president.
“This guy keeps his word like nobody I’ve ever dealt with,” White said in a recent interview. “He is just such a good guy. He asked me to speak at the RNC and I was treated well. Then the elections happen and I’m staying at the Peninsula Hotel. Hillary Clinton is at my hotel and directly across the street is Trump Towers. I’m talking to my partners, the Fertitta brothers who do exist, on the phone and going back and forth. Then Ivanka [Trump’s] husband calls me and says ‘we’re going to win this thing. My father-in-law loves you. Go down to the Hilton and meet us for the celebration party.’”
Despite the extensive duties that come with the presidency, Trump continues to show an interest in the UFC. White revealed that Trump calls him “twice a month” to “talk about the fight that just happened the other day.” Evidently, that appears to be enough for the UFC head honcho to gauge Trump's presidentiality.
“I’m telling you I’ve dealt with him for 16 years and everything about this guy has been as stand-up as stand-up can be.”