UFC President Dana White Discusses Bill Maher’s White House Visit
On Tuesday, Dana White, the President of UFC, joined comedian Andrew Schultz on the “Fragrant” podcast. The two spoke highly of Bill Maher, a late-night host, who visited President Trump at the White House back in March.
Maher, a well-known critic of Trump, shared his experiences from that visit shortly after it happened. He found Trump to be surprisingly polite and in a good mood, which he hadn’t expected.
Schultz expressed admiration for Maher’s decision to meet Trump, remarking to White, “I really respect what Bill did.”
Insight on the Encounter
White, who was also present during Maher’s visit, provided additional details about the evening. He described how Maher and Trump engaged in a dinner conversation about their differing policies, followed by a complete tour of the White House.
“Considering how long he’s supported the Democratic party, it’s interesting that he was invited for this,” White noted. “No one else had ever done that for him.”
White praised Maher for stepping beyond his public criticisms to have this dialogue with Trump and called attention to Maher’s candidness about the dinner.
Schultz’s Perspective
During the podcast, Schultz mentioned that meeting someone face-to-face can completely change your perception. “Sometimes it’s unsettling to see someone you think you dislike be friendly and, well, human,” he added.
He reflected on how people often feel compelled to hold onto their negative views, saying, “It’s instinctive to defend our beliefs about someone we think we should hate. It can feel like a fight for those views.” This brings up questions about how personal interactions can challenge preconceived notions.
Maher’s Reflection on Trump
A week after his visit, Maher shared his thoughts on the encounter with Trump, which caught many off guard. He stated, “People might hate me for this, but I’m not being dishonest. Mr. Trump was quite polite and thoughtful.” He was puzzled why Trump doesn’t display this demeanor in other contexts.
Maher dismissed claims that the visit was any kind of significant political meeting, asserting, “I have no power. I’m just a comedian. He’s the leader of the free world!”
White also recounted an amusing moment where Maher brought a printout of Trump’s past insults to him—Trump playfully signed it.
In the end, White shared how he made a light-hearted joke offering Maher a Coca-Cola, only for Maher to quip he needed something stronger to help with his nerves.
White reminisced, “Maher came prepared with a list of the president’s past comments about him, and we both signed it. It’s now on display at the UFC headquarters.”
