President Donald Trump said Sunday that he was “only kidding” when he suggested UFC chief executive Dana White could become his next White House press secretary.
Trump had fueled speculation Saturday by appearing to float the idea of recruiting his outspoken ally while signaling a combative strategy for dealing with Democrats as they prepare to take control of Congress.
The president said White “loves the idea” of taking the position but insisted he had not made a serious proposal, characterizing the suggestion as “just a little fun.”
“I will tell you, I was only kidding,” Trump told reporters, explaining that he had posted photographs of prominent UFC fighters as potential assistants to White as part of the joke.
In Saturday’s post, Trump called White a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and suggested he bring several current and former UFC champions to Washington as assistants who could “defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
Trump said White would visit him at the White House on Monday but clarified that the meeting had been arranged for other reasons.
White, who has headed the Ultimate Fighting Championship for more than two decades, is a close Trump ally and helped build support for his 2024 presidential campaign.
He has also appeared with Trump at numerous political events and helped bring UFC bouts to the White House lawn this year.
President Donald Trump said he was “only kidding” after suggesting UFC chief Dana White could become his next White House press secretary
Trump said White “loves the idea” but insisted the proposal was “just a little fun,” including the suggestion that UFC fighters become assistants
On Saturday, White broke his silence and said he was flying immediately to Washington, DC, where he would meet the president face-to-face on Monday.
The UFC boss chuckled when a reporter in London asked about the extraordinary proposal before declaring: “I’m flying to Washington, DC, right now.”
White, 57, declined to say whether he had already discussed the position with Trump but confirmed that he would meet his longtime friend at the White House.
“I’m sure we’ll have more to talk about after that,” he said, keeping speculation alive over whether he might actually become the administration’s next chief spokesperson.
“I’ve got a lot of jobs already,” White added when questioned by a reporter at a press conference.
His remarks followed conflicting reports about whether he was seriously considering the role or had already rejected Trump’s offer.
TMZ reported that the fight promoter would meet Trump in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss the position, citing sources with direct knowledge of the planned meeting.
But CNN reported that White had already declined the unusual proposal, while one White House aide suggested Trump had been joking.
White said Saturday that he was flying to Washington, DC, immediately and would meet Trump at the White House on Monday
Trump has struggled to fill the position since Karoline Leavitt left the role
Trump made the proposal on Truth Social, urging White to accept and suggesting that several UFC fighters serve as assistants
White appeared to play along, reposting Trump’s announcement on Instagram and sharing an image of himself behind the White House briefing-room podium
The episode comes as Trump works to fill one of the administration’s most prominent positions after the disastrous five-day tenure of Katie Zacharia, who was fired following a troubled first press briefing.
The role has assumed even greater significance after Republicans suffered a crushing midterm defeat, giving Democrats control of both chambers of Congress and the authority to investigate the administration.
Trump made the proposal on Truth Social Saturday, writing: “I am 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.”
The president also suggested that White bring an unusual group of mixed martial arts stars to Washington as members of his communications team.
“I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris,” Trump wrote, apparently referring to UFC fighter Kayla Harrison in the final name.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
The post immediately raised questions about whether Trump was making a genuine job offer or simply joking with his close friend.
White appeared ready to play along, reposting Trump’s announcement on Instagram and sharing a photograph of himself standing behind the White House briefing-room podium.
“On to the next chapter,” he wrote beside the image, without saying whether he was accepting the offer or joining in the joke.
Katie Zacharia was dismissed as White House press secretary after only five days, following a rocky debut briefing
The search has included several unexpected names, with White House staffers reportedly even floating rapper Nicki Minaj as a possible candidate shortly before the midterm elections
White House communications director Steven Cheung also strongly endorsed the idea, reposting Trump’s announcement with the message: “Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!”
Trump’s interest in White comes amid a chaotic search for Zacharia’s replacement after her remarkably short tenure ended last month.
She was dismissed after just five days, leaving the White House seeking someone able to withstand the constant scrutiny of Washington’s press corps.
Her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, held the position for about 18 months before leaving in August to spend more time with her young family. She later joined Fox News as a contributor.
The search has generated several surprising possibilities, including reports that White House staffers had considered rapper Nicki Minaj shortly before the midterm elections.
White, meanwhile, has spent years cultivating one of Trump’s closest relationships outside politics.
The UFC chief has spoken at the past three Republican National Conventions and played a major role in connecting Trump with younger male voters during his successful 2024 campaign.
Trump has previously credited White with helping him reach an entirely new generation of voters.
White has spent years developing one of Trump’s closest relationships outside politics. The pair are pictured at the “UFC Freedom 250” MMA event on the White House South Lawn in June
The shake-up has reached the highest levels of Trump’s administration. On Friday, he dismissed longtime chief of staff Susie Wiles
“He introduced me to people I never heard of, young kids,” the president said earlier this year.
“I mean, I was being interviewed by 20-year-old kids. I’m saying, ‘Where the hell did you meet these people?’ They’re called influencers.”
That relationship reached a new level in June, when Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
However, Trump’s efforts to preserve his support among young men suffered a setback in Tuesday’s midterm elections, when the demographic moved toward Democrats.
The personnel shake-up has also reached the highest levels of the Trump administration.
On Friday, Trump ousted longtime chief of staff Susie Wiles and announced that hardline adviser Stephen Miller would succeed her beginning Monday.
“I’ll be doing maybe a few changes,” Trump told CBS News on Friday.