Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke
President Trump reversed his announcement that Dana White was offered White House press secretary, calling it a joke.
Justin Moore/Wikimedia Commons
President Donald Trump stated on November 8 that his announcement offering UFC CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary was made in jest. The clarification came a day after Trump posted on Truth Social about the offer, which had sparked speculation about White’s potential role in the White House.
Trump’s Initial Announcement and White’s Reaction
On November 7, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was “pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States.” This post included photos of Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes and coincided with White’s statement in London that he was flying to Washington, DC, to meet with Trump on November 9. White shared an Instagram Story photo of himself at the White House podium captioned, “On to the next chapter,” along with a screenshot of Trump’s announcement. However, within an hour of Trump’s post, White’s X account shifted focus to promoting upcoming UFC fights.
Clarification and Context Around the Press Secretary Role
President Trump quickly backtracked on the offer, saying on November 8 that he “was kidding” about the job offer despite noting that White “loves the idea” of being press secretary. The White House press secretary position has been vacant since Katie Zacharia resigned after just five days in October. Prior to Zacharia, Karoline Leavitt left the role in August after serving for over a year and a half to spend more time with her family.
Dana White’s Relationship with President Trump
Dana White is a longtime friend of President Trump and has hosted the president at numerous UFC events over the years. Notably, White hosted Trump’s birthday event, UFC Freedom 250, on the South Lawn of the White House in June. The event was part of the administration’s projects celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. White also spoke at both the 2016 and 2024 Republican National Conventions, introducing Trump at the latter and describing him as a friend of 25 years and “a man that truly cares about people.” This personal relationship fueled speculation about White’s suitability for a White House role.
Public and Organizational Responses
The White House did not respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY regarding the situation. Similarly, neither White nor the UFC immediately replied to inquiries from MMA Junkie, part of the USA TODAY Network. The swift shift from speculation to denial left observers questioning the seriousness of the announcement and the future of the press secretary vacancy.
While the offer was ultimately dismissed as a joke, it highlighted ongoing challenges in the White House press secretary position and underscored the close ties between the Trump administration and high-profile figures like Dana White.
