The media is circling again — this time taking swings at UFC President Dana White for refusing to bow to the altar of political correctness.

In a recent appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, White made it crystal clear: he’s not backing down from his long-standing friendship with President Donald Trump — and he’s certainly not apologizing for it.

During a sit-down with correspondent Luke Burbank, White was pressed on whether his very public support for Trump has made the UFC “too political.” The implication? That standing by a Republican president somehow contaminates the sport.

White didn’t blink.

Before the UFC was the global powerhouse it is today, it was on life support. When White and his partners purchased the struggling organization in 2001, the company was teetering on the edge of financial collapse. Enter Trump.

Back when few would give mixed martial arts the time of day, Trump opened the doors of the now-shuttered Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. The venue hosted several pivotal UFC events during those make-or-break years. While others turned their backs on the sport, Trump rolled out the red carpet.

White recalled that Trump didn’t just lend his property — he showed up. He once stayed for an entire fight card, a marathon night by any measure, and regularly congratulated White as the organization clawed its way toward mainstream success.

That loyalty forged a bond that has lasted more than two decades.

White has since returned the favor, speaking at a rally to endorse Trump during his presidential campaign. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, that’s apparently enough to trigger outrage from critics who believe sports executives should keep their political views locked away.

But White isn’t playing that game.

When asked whether backing Trump might alienate a chunk of UFC’s fan base, he delivered a blunt answer that’s now reverberating far beyond the Octagon:

“How about you be authentic and just be yourself? How about that? Just be authentic. You don’t have to agree with me, and you don’t have to like it; and I don’t have to agree with you, but we can all still just get along. I mean, that’s how this is supposed to work.”

Rather than tailoring his personal relationships to appease critics, White is doubling down on a simple premise — authenticity beats conformity. Fans are free to disagree. They’re free not to like it. But demanding silence because someone supports a conservative president? That’s not how this country — or the fight business — was built.