US President Donald Trump has clarified that he was joking when he publicly asked Ultimate Fighting Championship boss Dana White to serve as the White House press secretary. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump noted that while White found the concept appealing, the invitation was meant as lighthearted fun.
The remarks follow a social media post on Trump's Truth Social platform on Saturday where he stated he had offered White the position, writing that the executive would be a press secretary unlike any other. White subsequently acknowledged plans to meet with the president on Monday but declined to clarify whether he intended to pursue the vacant post.
Clarifying the upcoming visit on Sunday, Trump explained that White was scheduled to visit Washington for other matters. The president reiterated that the offer was not serious, though he praised the UFC leader's unique persona.
The White House press secretary position has remained vacant since October following the departure of Katie Zacharia after a brief tenure of less than five days. Zacharia had previously succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who served as the youngest press secretary in US history following the start of Trump's second term.
Trump's initial social media post arrived in the wake of significant midterm election defeats that saw the Republican Party surrender its majorities in both chambers of Congress. In that same online statement, Trump humorously suggested that White bring along several mixed martial arts fighters to act as assistants to defend against political opponents.
During a news conference on Saturday, the UFC chief executive addressed the proposal by noting his existing professional commitments and mentioning a scheduled Monday discussion with the president. Beyond leading the UFC and the PowerSlap promotion league, White's business ventures include launching Zuffa Boxing and serving as a board member for Meta.
White has maintained a close association with Trump politically, speaking in support of his presidential campaigns at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and appearing onstage during the 2024 election victory celebration.