After decades of promoting mixed martial arts, UFC CEO Dana White considers himself an expert on toughness.
And in Donald Trump, the 54-year-old told ESPN’s Pat McAfee, he sees exactly that.
“Everybody wants to be a tough guy, but when things get tough, you find out who the tough guys are and who the tough guys aren’t,” White told McAfee on Monday, after the failed assassination attempt on Trump. “This guy is the ultimate, true American bully of all time.”
But beyond the triumphant image of a defiant, bloodied Trump raising his fist as he was rescued by Secret Service agents, White stressed that the shooting was a dark day for all Americans, conservatives and liberals alike.
“This is the former president and candidate,” said White, who is scheduled to introduce Trump at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“Imagine if someone attacked Biden, or Obama, or Clinton. It would be like it was our president. If it happened to anyone, any of our presidents, every American in the world would be horrified, disgusted, upset, and angry.”
Dana White (right) spoke with Pat McAfee (left) about Donald Trump’s toughness
A bandaged Donald Trump arrives during the opening night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
White initially learned of the shooting while traveling, prompting him to post a message on social media.
“I’m on a plane right now flying to Italy and my phone has been blowing up with texts from people telling me that @realdonaldtrump was shot,” White wrote alongside Trump’s photo on Instagram. “I’m completely sick to my stomach and in complete shock. I still don’t know how bad it is or if he’s okay.”
Trump survived with a bloody ear, but a man named Corey Comperatore died in the attack.
And he wasn’t the only UFC voice offering support to Trump after the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“A 78-year-old billionaire should be on a yacht in the Mediterranean touring golf courses,” wrote Conor McGregor. “But he’s not.” “He’s in Pennsylvania spitting bullets! Running for the love of his country! God be with Donald! God bless the USA!”
In addition to McGregor, several UFC and MMA figures paid tribute to Trump following the incident. McGregor’s scheduled opponent, Michael Chandler, posted the photo of Trump with his fist raised and wrote: “fighter.”
UFC superstar Conor McGregor praised Donald Trump after his failed assassination attempt
Other UFC stars such as Sean Strickland, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal praised Trump
Former US president was shot during a presidential rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
“President Trump is the toughest man on the face of the Earth,” wrote Colby Covington, a fervent Trump supporter and former UFC interim welterweight champion. “May God bless him and his family at this time.”
“God loves this man! Glad President Trump is okay,” Covington’s bitter rival Jorge Masvidal wrote. “The left knows no bounds! They say they are the non-violent ones. They will stop at nothing! Make sure to screenshot any leftists celebrating what happened today.”
“Trump is a complete savage,” said former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. “The man gets shot and he’s still standing up for his people.”
Trump has a long-standing relationship with the UFC. During the organization’s early, dark years, the billionaire businessman-turned-politician hosted events at the Trump Taj Mahal in New Jersey.
Decades later, when MMA became mainstream and the UFC was the premier promotion, Trump often sat cageside alongside UFC president Dana White at major fight cards.