UFC boss Dana White secures a spot on Meta's board, marking Zuckerberg's second significant right-wing appointment within a week
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the appointment of Marc White, UFC CEO, to the social media giant's board of directors on a Facebook post. This move, along with the additions of tech investor Charlie Songhurst and John Elkann, CEO of Exor, brings Meta's board to a total of 13 members. Zuckerberg expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We have massive opportunities ahead in AI, wearables, and the future of social media, and our board will help us achieve our vision."
The appointment of White, known for his support of Donald Trump, is noteworthy. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, White stumped for Trump and praised him at the Republican National Convention. He also shared Trump's presence at a UFC event and leveraged his influence to secure Trump appearances on right-leaning podcasts. However, White later claimed to want no further involvement in politics.
In a recent turn of events, Meta's President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, announced his departure, handing over his responsibilities to deputy Joel Kaplan, a notable Republican leader with a history in President George W. Bush's administration. Zuckerberg has expressed a keen interest in engaging with the incoming Trump administration, meeting with Trump post-election and donating $1 million to his inaugural fund.
Meta has faced criticism from Republicans for allegedly censoring conservative voices. In response, Meta has eased election-related content moderation, allowing claims of voter fraud and political ads questioning the outcome of the 2020 election. This move has been welcomed by the Republican party.
CNN's Liam Reilly contributed to this report.
[Enrichment Data]:Marc White, UFC CEO, was appointed to Meta's board in January 2025. The strategic move aligns with a broader ideological shift to the right within Meta's top ranks, represented by White's support for Donald Trump and Joel Kaplan's prominent Republican background.
White's connections and support of Trump have been utilized to promote Trump's agenda and secure appearances on right-leaning podcasts. Meta's decision to ease election-related content moderation aligns with Republican's criticisms of alleged censorship and has been welcomed by the party. Mark Zuckerberg's efforts to improve his relationship with Trump, including dining at Mar-a-Lago and donating to his inaugural fund, further emphasize Meta's strategic move towards aligning with the right.
- The addition of Marc White to Meta's board, known for his support of tech entrepreneur Donald Trump, indicates a potential shift towards tech-driven conservative politics within the company.
- Meta's board, now enriched with tech-savvy individuals like Marc White and Joel Kaplan, both known for their conservative leanings, might bring new business strategies that align with conservative values in tech.
