Former U.S. president Donald Trump likely spoke to many people prior to his debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, and he appeared to need a pep talk from one of his good friends, Dana White.
White revealed that Trump called him shortly before the first face-to-face showdown between the presidential candidates.
“He called me an hour before the debate,” the UFC boss said, adding that he had yet to see what happened during the 90-minute faceoff on ABC.
White, who was promoting his Contender Series, noted that he spoke to Trump as he was getting off a plane in Los Angeles.
“I don’t know how it went or what happened, but I know he took it seriously,” White divulged. “He said, ‘I look at this like a heavyweight fight. I’m not taking anybody lightly.’”
White said, “First of all, it’s the second time he has had to debate,” referencing Trump’s June debate with Joe Biden that led to a series of events that ended several weeks later with the President’s withdrawal from the race.
“They didn’t like how the debate turned out. They want to kick that guy [Biden] out. He’s unfit to run, yet he’s still the President of the United States,” White ranted.
“Now they bring in somebody who wasn’t elected to actually be in there.”
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He added: “They’ll only do it on ABC. It was three to one tonight. He was facing three to one.”
However, when asked what advice he doled out to Trump, White replied, “I’ll keep that between me and him.”
The two men have known one another for 25 years.
The former president often makes appearances at UFC events, while White was the final speaker at the Republican National Convention in July, right before his pal accepted the GOP presidential nomination.
In his speech, the 54-year-old told Republican Party members that the country was in a better place when Trump was president and he is the right choice to lead once again.
“I know I’m going to choose strength and security,” White declared at the time. “I know I’m going to choose opportunity and prosperity. I know I’m going to choose real American leadership and a real American bada–.”
During Tuesday’s debate, Trump and Harris showcased starkly different visions for the U.S. when it came to immigration, abortion, immigration and democracy.
It is unknown if there will be another debate before Election Day in November.