Key Takeaways
- UFC CEO Dana White reportedly declined Donald Trump’s offer to become White House press secretary, though one aide told CNN the president was joking.
- Trump pitched UFC stars as potential assistants and wrote, “Dana, please take the job!” while White played along on Instagram with a podium photo captioned “On to the next chapter.”
- Trump’s search follows Karoline Leavitt’s departure and successor Katie Zacharia’s five-day stint, amid a broader administration shake-up after Democrats won both chambers of Congress.
Dana White has reportedly passed on a different kind of fight: answering questions for President Donald Trump in the White House.
The UFC CEO declined Trump’s offer to become White House press secretary, according to CNN. The position has remained vacant since Oct. 16.
The president announced the offer on Truth Social, though one aide told CNN he was joking.
Posting from his golf club in Florida, Trump described his longtime friend as “the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior” and suggested bringing several UFC stars to Washington as assistants.
His proposed lineup included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes.
“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!” Trump wrote.
White initially played along. While in London for a boxing event, he shared Trump’s announcement on Instagram alongside an image of himself behind the White House briefing-room podium. The caption read, “On to the next chapter.”
The reported rejection leaves Trump still looking for someone to take over the podium following two departures.
Karoline Leavitt left at the end of August to spend more time with her family. Her replacement, Katie Zacharia, lasted five days and appeared at just one briefing before her exit.
The search comes amid a broader shake-up following Democrats’ midterm victories, which gave the party control of both chambers of Congress.
White has remained one of Trump’s most visible supporters, speaking at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Trump has also regularly attended UFC events alongside him.
