By Ricardo Lezama 
UFC President and CEO Dana White has been appointed to the board of Meta Platforms Inc., according to an announcement by the company. White is set to join the board along with Exor CEO John Elkann and technology investor Charlie Songhurst. The news comes as Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, continues to reshape the company’s board and shift its focus towards artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse. Zuckerberg’s board choices have been seen as controversial by some, given White’s vocal support and endorsement of President Trump.
Critics argue that his appointment could potentially sway the company’s strategic direction to appease Trump supporters. However, it’s unclear what expertise White brings to Meta’s future projects involving AI technology. Before his appointment, White was known for promoting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) widely and building the brand through digital platforms, but faced significant criticism for his approach. White’s appointment to the Meta board precedes President-elect Donald Trump’s imminent transition to office, an event awaited with much anticipation and apprehension within the tech industry and beyond.