"Spare me the victim mentality" - Ariel Helwani gets brutally honest about Dana White's remarks at Donald Trump's victory speech
Ariel Helwani recently shared his honest reaction to Dana White's speech after Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections. The veteran journalist wasn't impressed by White seemingly displaying a "victim mentality" and opined that the UFC CEO loves punching down on contemporary media.
After Trump beat Kamala Harris to get elected as POTUS for a second time, he called his close friend White to give a speech at the victory declaration event. The UFC CEO gave a high-octane public address while thanking personalities like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Adin Ross, and the NELK Boys.
During his speech, White also lauded Trump and his family for their tenacity in dealing with constant media bashing. During a recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, the journalist pointed out that White loved playing victim everywhere and said:
"I have no real issue with all this, it is what it is. We've seen it for a very long time. I think it's supremely interesting how, and he'll never admit this, he says this about me, he loves to make himself and the people around him into the victim. 'This is when the machine comes after you' and 'this is karma' and this and that."
He continued:
"Like, man, it was a victory. Take the victory lap. Thank everyone. Thank the podcasters and other hosts and thank the people you work with. Spare me the victim mentality... I don't know what karma he's talking about."
Catch Ariel Helwani's comments below (6:00):
Ariel Helwani speculates Dana White potentially joining Donald Trump's administration
After Donald Trump secured his second term as U.S. President and invited Dana White to speak at the victory declaration event, Ariel Helwani wondered whether the UFC CEO could join the next administration.
In an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, the veteran MMA journalist wondered whether politics was White's next career step. Given that White's retirement has been a subject of discussion for years, Helwani said:
"It feels like we're not that far away from him being part of some cabinet. Like is he going to leave? Is this the route? It's a wild thing and this is not me editorialising. It's actually kind of wild... Not only that, throughout all of the broadcast last night, you're hearing people specifically credit Joe Rogan and his endorsement of Donald Trump. The fact that Kamala Harris didn't go on his show."