UFC president Dana White has been seen with President Donald Trump on numerous occassions, and it's not a secret that he has some level of friendship with him and, in the opinion of many, leans to the right on the political spectrum.

However, according to Fox News, White recently opened up about his quick conversation with former President Barack Obama during President Trump's inauguration, dispelling rumors that he said anything negative to the former president. 

White stumped for Trump during the 2024 election, and many fans of UFC who weren't fans of Trump or Republican politics called out White for what appeared to be him taking sides.

But as White explained, it's not about personal politics, it's about respect for the office, admitting that it wouldn't have mattered which president spoke to him or said something to him -- he would have offered the same respect either way.

What did he say?

White opened up about his quick back-and-forth with Obama during a "60 Minutes" interview this weekend.

Fox News noted:

White and Obama were seen talking in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington back in January. But White had never spoken about the interaction until Sunday night’s appearance on "60 Minutes."

"I am an American citizen. Biden was my president. Trump is my president," White said.

He added, "I was at the inauguration and I was sitting behind all of the ex-presidents and there was this stuff going around like, ‘Dana’s mad-dogging President Obama.’ President Obama turned around, the only president that did, and shook my hand and said, ‘Congratulations on all your success.’ And I said, ‘Thank you very much Mr. President.’"

White then said that he would offer the same respect to Obama if he wanted to see a UFC fight or whatever he would ask.

"That’s what happened. I never talked about that publicly. If President Obama called and said, ‘Hey, I’d like to come see a fight.’ I’d be like, ‘Yeah, buy some tickets and good luck’ or whatever? No, the sitting president or the ex-president of the United States wants to come to your event, you treat them with respect."

Trump a UFC fan

White has been to a number of RNC events along with stumping for Trump during his campaign. Trump has also been to quite a few UFC events.

But it's clear that while White is a friend of Trump, and probably leans right, it doesn't mean he wouldn't show respect to the office, no matter who it is.

White is clearly a man who knows what he believes in, yet maintains a level of respect and doesn't let his personal politics get in the way of anything.

It would be nice to see more business leaders like him -- ones who have a spine and aren't afraid to be decent.