Earlier this week, Former President Donald Trump took to social media, urging his supporters to have a “second chance” consideration of their stance on Anheuser-Busch, as revealed by a source to CNBC.
Anheuser-Busch faced significant criticism last year due to its Bud Light marketing campaign involving transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Dana White, head of the leading mixed martial arts promotion UFC, contacted Trump to advocate for Anheuser-Busch and encourage positive remarks about the company.
In his Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump demonstrated a deep understanding of various operational facets of the beer company.
He highlighted that Anheuser-Busch allocates $700 million annually “with our GREAT Farmers,” employs 65,000 Americans, and extends scholarships to families of fallen military members. Trump stated, “Anheuser-Busch is a GREAT American brand that perhaps deserves a Second Chance?”
In October, UFC, under the ownership of TKO Group Holdings, disclose a significant partnership with Anheuser-Busch. This collaboration positioned Bud Light as the official beer partner of the prominent mixed martial arts organization, with reports indicating a deal valued at $100 million.
In the press release unveiling the agreement, White expressed, “There are many reasons why I chose to go with Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, most importantly because I feel we are very aligned when it comes to our core values and what the UFC brand stands for.”
A representative for UFC opted not to provide any statements regarding White’s discussion with Trump. Similarly, a spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch chose not to address inquiries for comment.
In his Tuesday social media post, Trump hinted at the possibility of unveiling a list of companies, distinct from Anheuser-Busch, which he perceives as “woke.”
Trump wrote, “Am building a list, and might just release it for the World to see,”. His followers, Trump suggested, should be “going after those companies that are looking to DESTROY AMERICA!”
“Those comments came after Trump in a social media post on Sunday was much more critical of the company, saying: ‘the Bud Light ad will go down as the WORST AD in history.'”
“In a matter of minutes, 30 billion dollars worth of market cap simply disappeared from the face of the earth. Will they ever get it back? Who knows, but what a mess!” Trump wrote.
Trump, positioned as the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, made a notable appearance at the UFC’s event on December 16th in Las Vegas. During the event, he joined UFC president Dana White and musician Kid Rock in the audience.
This wasn’t Trump’s first encounter with the UFC scene. He had attended two other UFC events earlier in 2023 and had graced previous events hosted by the promotion in preceding years.
