There appeared to be a mix-up between the octagon and the Pentagon. After President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he’d offered Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary, the internet quickly joked that the president had confused the longtime MMA promoter with a former top Pentagon spokeswoman who shares his name.
One user on X suggested Trump may have been pitched Dana W. White, a former assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs and chief Pentagon spokesperson, before supposedly mistaking her for the UFC head.“I guarantee you someone recommended her to Trump, and he thought they meant UFC Dana White and nobody is allowed to correct him lol,” one X user joked in a post.
Dana W. White took to LinkedIn to respond: “To everyone texting me congratulations: thank you, but you have the wrong Dana White. … I’ve stood at a podium and taken questions from the Pentagon press corps. I have never stood in an octagon. I’d like to keep it that way,” she continued. “It is nice for once that, that Dana White is being confused with this Dana White. Best of luck to the next White House Press Secretary!”
Dana W. White has a loaded resume
Dana W. White served as the Pentagon’s chief public affairs official under then-Defense Secretary James Mattis during Trump’s first administration, where she headed communications and media relations for the Defense Department. Her extensive resume also includes roles as an editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal, a publicist for Fox News, and a foreign policy adviser to the late Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, the UFC boss reposted her message on Instagram, writing: “@DanaWWhite, you are a class act.” Trump and White have a long-standing friendship dating back to years before the former became President of the United States. However, Trump made headlines over the weekend when he offered White a high-profile job in the White House.
Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump addressed the reports about offering Dana White the role of White House Press Secretary. He clarified that his remarks were unserious and assumed viewers of his Truth Social video would recognize the humor. “You would have thought people would realize I was having a good time. I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea. There’s only one Dana, and he’s great. You wouldn’t mess around with him too much,” Trump said.
Published: Nov 9, 2026 01:45 pm