Meta has made waves with three new appointments to its board, including UFC president Dana White, a key figure in the Trump circle. This shift comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appears to be smoothing things over with the president-elect ahead of his inauguration.
Joining White on the board are John Elkann, the head of European investment giant Exor, and Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive. Zuckerberg emphasized the trio’s expertise in artificial intelligence, wearables, and human connectivity, areas where Meta plans to make major strides.
White, widely credited with turning UFC into a global powerhouse, expressed his excitement about contributing to the future of AI and emerging tech. His reputation for championing free speech has sparked controversy in the past, notably around UFC fighters’ anti-LGBT comments, but his role at Meta signals a potential shift in corporate priorities.
This move also reflects a broader political recalibration at Meta. Sir Nick Clegg, the former UK deputy prime minister, stepped down as global affairs president, replaced by Joel Kaplan, a Republican stalwart. The change suggests a thawing of relations between Meta and Trump, a dynamic that soured after the former president was banned from Facebook and Instagram following the January 2021 Capitol riot.
The shift is also marked by Zuckerberg’s recent $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, signaling an evolving relationship between the tech mogul and the president-elect.
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