Donald Trump ‘Plays Referee’ as Rivals Jake Paul and Dana White Meet

US President Donald Trump had the unenviable task of trying to ease tensions between UFC boss Dana White and YouTuber-turned-boxing star Jake Paul when the pair crossed paths earlier this week.

All three men were present at the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Paul and White have been embroiled in a public spat for the past few years, with the former calling out the UFC CEO over fighter pay, as well as the restrictive nature of the organisation’s contracts.

The Problem Child even went as far as to release a diss track aimed at the 56-year-old in 2022. The song was accompanied by a music video mocking the UFC boss and featured a cameo by ex-UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.

White has dismissed Paul’s verbal attacks on him, claiming that the influencer and social media personality is not really a boxer, and has also criticised the 29-year-old for his choice of opposition, including an aging Mike Tyson and a long list of retired MMA fighters.

At the National Championship game on Monday night, Paul was captured entering the suite at Hard Rock Stadium, where the current US President and White were seated to watch the young stars in action, including Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.

Footage has now emerged showing Paul seemingly ignoring White at first as he shook the hand of another individual sitting nearby, with the UFC boss remaining in his seat and apparently refusing to stand up while Paul and Trump engaged in conversation.

Eventually, Trump brought the two feuding men together to converse in what looked like a tension-filled gathering. Despite the lack of audio, White seemingly asks Paul about the status of his health following his clash with Anthony Joshua in Miami. Jake suffered a broken jaw after being brutally stopped in a sixth round loss against the former heavyweight world champion.

While it is unknown whether the US President was able to squash the bad blood between White and Paul, or if the two just had a routine exchange out of respect for Trump and then went their separate ways afterwards.

Users on social media were quick to point out the frosty meeting between Paul and White, labeling the viral incident “awkward” and that the “tension was LOUD” in the stadium suite.

One social media user pointed out White’s heavy dislike for Paul due to him not moving from his seat, writing: “Nothing says I don’t respect you like not standing up to shake hands and talk.”

“Dana definitely asked if he’s still eating through a straw,” joked another poster, while a further user chimed in: “Trump playing referee. Dana still can’t stand Jake!”