Donald Trump has claimed that his offer to make UFC CEO Dana White the next White House press secretary wasn’t serious, despite publicly suggesting the job for his longtime ally and naming several fighters as potential assistants, according to Firstpost.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters, a day after posting a message on social media proposing White for the vacant position. Trump later insisted that the offer was simply a joke. “I will tell you, I was only kidding,” Trump told reporters, explaining that the photographs he shared of prominent UFC fighters as potential White House staff members were also part of the joke.
The president added that White “loves the idea” of taking the position, but maintained that he had not seriously considered appointing him. Trump also confirmed that White was expected to visit the White House, although he said the meeting was unrelated to the press secretary position.
He loves joking
Trump’s post suggested that White could take over as press secretary and bring several current and former UFC fighters along as assistants. The president described the UFC chief as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and said the fighters would help “defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
The post came amid an unusual vacancy in the White House press secretary’s office. The position had reportedly remained unfilled for three weeks following the departure of Trump’s previous pick, Katie Zacharia, who was forced to resign after a series of public missteps, according to The Independent.
Before Zacharia, Karoline Leavitt held the position for approximately a year and a half. She stepped down in August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family, and subsequently took up a new role at Fox News (per Fox News).
Trump appeared to continue the joke by sharing an animated video on Truth Social depicting White as White House press secretary. The cartoon, which used an animation style similar to that of “Family Guy,” showed White standing behind the briefing room podium and introducing his supposed new assistants. “Trump made me press secretary; I brought help,” the character says in the video.
White has been one of Trump’s prominent allies and helped mobilize support for his 2024 presidential campaign. The UFC CEO has maintained a close relationship with the president. White once told ESPN that Trump is among his greatest friends. “Like, you have a group of friends in your life that are, especially at my age, you’ve gone through all the s— in your life and all this stuff. Me and this guy have been friends for 25 years and … our relationship gets stronger every year,” he said.
Published: Nov 9, 2026 09:00 am