Trump Asks UFC Boss Dana White to Serve as White House Press Secretary

Nov 9, 2:52 AM2 min readCovered by 4 outlets

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

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Donald Trump has invited UFC chief Dana White to be his next press secretary, calling on the 'warrior' to lead White House communications.

President Donald Trump has publicly offered the role of White House press secretary to UFC CEO Dana White, describing the fight promoter as a warrior and fighter.

President Trump announced the offer on Saturday via Truth Social, urging White to "please take the job!" and suggesting he bring several high-profile fighters to the White House. According to BBC Sport, Trump claimed these individuals are needed to defend against political opponents. White House communications director Steven Cheung also encouraged the move on social media, telling White to "Do it."

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding whether White will accept the position. Deutsche Welle noted that CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that White has already turned the offer down. However, White shared a photo on Instagram of himself behind the White House press lectern with the caption "On to the next chapter," and later told reporters in London that he is flying to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday.

The 57-year-old UFC executive faces a potential move to a role that has been vacant since mid-October. Deutsche Welle reported the position was left empty when Katie Zacharia resigned on October 16 after five days on the job. The offer to White comes in the wake of Republican losses in the midterm elections and the recent appointment of Stephen Miller as chief of staff.

BBC Sport highlighted that White maintains numerous business commitments, including leadership of UFC and the newly launched Zuffa Boxing, as well as a seat on the board of Meta. While known for a combative history with sports media, it remains unclear if Trump's public offer is genuine or how it would affect White's existing roles.

Background

Dana White is a long-term supporter of Donald Trump and appeared with him during his 2024 victory speech. In June, the administration hosted the first-ever UFC event on the White House South Lawn as part of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.