Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, seems to be making strikes to enhance relations with president-elect Donald Trump.
Meta has appointed three new members to its board of administrators, together with Dana White, the president and CEO of Final Preventing Championship (UFC).
The social media firm, which owns Fb, Instagram and WhatsApp, can be including automobile tycoon John Elkann and tech investor Charlie Songhurst to its board, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in a Fb submit late on Monday.
The selection of White, an in depth ally of president-elect Donald Trump, is prone to be an try to enhance Meta’s ties with the Republican chief – who was as soon as banned from Fb.
After Trump received re-election in November, Zuckerberg notably dined on the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Florida and Meta donated $1m (€964,000) to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Different Huge Tech firms reminiscent of Amazon have donated related quantities.
Trump is a longtime UFC fan and frequent attendee of main fights.
His ties with White date again to 2001, when White hosted a UFC on the Republican’s former casino-hotel in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey, the Trump Taj Mahal.
Trump has additionally appeared with White at UFC matches over time, particularly in his 2024 marketing campaign as a part of efforts to attraction to youthful male voters.
White, in flip, has had talking roles on the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and appeared on stage at Trump’s election victory occasion in November, even talking briefly to the group.
The pair attended a UFC pay-per-view card after the election at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place followers applauded as organisers confirmed video highlights of Trump’s street to reclaiming the White Home.
White has constructed UFC “into one of the vital worthwhile, quickest rising, and hottest sports activities enterprises on this planet”, Zuckerberg stated.
“I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his capability to construct such a beloved model.”
Zuckerberg can be lively in combined martial arts. Zuckerberg and fellow billionaire Elon Musk seemingly agreed to combat in a “cage match” in 2023, however it by no means occurred.
Elkann, one other particular person becoming a member of Meta’s board, is the CEO of Exor, a Netherlands-based funding firm, and chairman of its two automobile firms, Stellantis and Ferrari.
Zuckerberg stated Elkann has “deep expertise operating giant world companies and he brings a world perspective to our board”.
Songhurst beforehand labored at Microsoft and commenced advising Meta final 12 months on synthetic intelligence.