UFC president Dana White again has thrown his political support behind president Donald Trump leading up to the 2020 election in November.

In a five and half minute pre-taped stump speech Thursday as part of the final night of the Republican National Convention, White lavished praise on Trump’s leadership style, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic; was critical of those calling for police reform in the wake of continued incidents of police shootings involving persons of color; and touted the UFC for being the first to get back to live sporting events after nationwide shutdowns.

White said it’s “critically important to reelect President Trump,” but also said the coronavirus pandemic means votes beyond the presidential race are important, as well – presumably if those votes align with Trump’s Republican party.

“Many of you know who I am, what I do, and that I am friends with the president. I spoke at this convention four years ago, and I’m back because I believe we need President Trump’s leadership now more than ever,” White said to open his speech.

White then touted the pre-pandemic economy and unemployment numbers before taking some veiled shots at protests going on throughout the country in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May. Many of those have devolved into riots and continued escalation of force from law enforcement against protesters.

“Before the pandemic … we weren’t facing the lawless destruction that now is occurring in a few of our great cities,” White said. “It blows my mind how quickly some of the leadership in this country has forgotten the critical role first responders play in our society. Police departments, and other law enforcement, and even some fire departments, have faced opposition from many in this country. But they are always the people who are asked to step up when things are at their worst and put themselves at risk. That has certainly been the case during this ongoing pandemic.

“C’mon, America: Defunding these vital positions is not the answer. The first responders have always taken care of us. And now, more than ever, we need to take care of them.”

White transitioned to the COVID-19 pandemic itself and his role as part of a task force of business leaders chosen by Trump to help bring the country out of the economic downturn caused by shutdowns in an effort to get the virus under control.

Since the time White was picked to be part of the panel, most of the country has opened back up – still, though, with many restrictions. The U.S. is approaching 6 million verified cases of coronavirus and this week passed 181,000 deaths from it. Some estimates put the true number of cases much higher, but at a total that may never be known because people have had it, but not been tested, and have recovered.

“Let’s talk about COVID, and let’s be very honest about it,” White said. “No one person and no one place could’ve anticipated the challenges that COVID would bring. But President Trump has faced all these obstacles head-on. He immediately put protective measures in place, and he reached out to the best and the brightest leading American businesses across all industries to discuss what he and his administration could do to get the economy back up and running safely.”

White said being on the task force let him see about Trump that “his highest priority was always the health and safety of everyone in our country – not just Republicans, not just supporters, but every single American.” And by letting sports and entertainment resume, it brought back “a sense of normalcy in people’s lives.”

White’s friendship with Trump goes back to his early days running the UFC, when MMA still was on the fringes of the mainstream sports world and fighting an uphill battle trying to become regulated. Trump opened up his former Taj Mahal casino property in Atlantic City, N.J., for three UFC events in 2000-2001.

White has said for years that Trump was loyal to him and the UFC then, and he will return that loyalty.

“Make no mistake about it, we still have a long way to go,” White said. “And that is why we need a leader with President Trump’s unique attributes at this critical time. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: He is one of the most loyal human beings I’ve ever met. The man has unstoppable energy – no one, and I mean no one, is going to outwork this guy. But most importantly, he truly loves and believes in our country. He believes in the people of this country.

“… While we certainly have experienced a ton of negativity in 2020, President Trump’s mindset is to work tirelessly to find solutions to problems and help restore America. He did it once, and I’m telling you right now, he will do it again. And remember: President Trump may be the only president in modern times who has actually done everything he’s said he would do during his campaign.

“… Ladies and gentlemen, let’s reelect President Trump, let’s figure out what the problems are and continue to find solutions to those problems, then let’s get to work.”