Trump says he was 'kidding' about offering Dana White press secretary job
US President Donald Trump revealed he was only joking after posting an offer to have UFC chief executive Dana White serve as White House press secretary.
US President Donald Trump revealed that he was only joking when he suggested asking Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White to serve as the next White House press secretary, bringing an end to a weekend of intense speculation across Washington and political media.
The remarks were made to reporters on Sunday, as Trump prepared to depart Florida for the White House following a weekend stay. According to coverage from outlets including Geosuper, Newstalkzb, Fox35orlando, and RSB Network, the president walked back his previous public statements after posting what appeared to be a formal job offer.
Media additions
"I will tell you, I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea. And there's only one Dana. He's great."
Donald Trump, US President, via Geosuper
The sequence of events began on Saturday, when Trump utilized his Truth Social platform to announce that White had been offered the position. In that post, Trump described White as a violent Fighter and Warrior
and urged him to accept the role, suggesting that several prominent mixed martial arts fighters—such as Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris—should accompany White as assistants to defend us against the Lunatic Left.
Trump later told reporters that the inclusion of fighters as prospective aides was intended to signal the joke, expressing surprise that observers did not immediately realize he was having fun.
Speculation intensified after White, who was in London over the weekend attending a boxing event, acknowledged to reporters that he was scheduled to travel to Washington for a meeting with Trump. White had shared an image of himself standing behind the White House press briefing podium on Instagram with the caption On to the next chapter,
though he declined to clarify whether he would accept any administration role. On Sunday, Trump confirmed that the meeting with White would still take place in Washington, but clarified that it was scheduled for unrelated reasons.
The playful social media post and subsequent clarification arrived amid broader administrative turmoil and shifting political landscapes. The White House press secretary position has been vacant since October, following a turbulent period for presidential communications. Karoline Leavitt, who served as the youngest press secretary in US history from the start of Trump's second term, departed in August. She was succeeded by Katie Zacharia, whose tenure lasted a mere five days before her departure. Furthermore, the presidential announcement coincided with a high-level staffing shakeup that included the resignation of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and the appointment of Stephen Miller to the role.
| Official / Figure | Recent Role or Context | Details from Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Karoline Leavitt | Former Press Secretary | Departed in August after serving since the start of the second term as the youngest spokesperson in US history. |
| Katie Zacharia | Former Press Secretary | Departed in October after a brief five-day tenure following her appointment. |
| Dana White | UFC Chief Executive | Subject of a social media job offer confirmed by Trump to be in jest ahead of a scheduled Washington meeting. |
| Stephen Miller | White House Chief of Staff | Appointed following the resignation of Susie Wiles amid administration restructuring. |
Political analysts and regional outlets noted that the episode unfolded against the backdrop of significant legislative setbacks for the governing party. Hindustan Times and NBC News reported that Republicans suffered heavy losses in the midterm elections, resulting in Democrats seizing control of both the House and Senate. The defeat triggered widespread debates within the GOP, calls for congressional term and age limits sparked by viral footage of senior lawmakers, and evaluations of upcoming Senate leadership conference votes.
Despite the lack of a permanent chief spokesperson, the administration continues to navigate a divided government and upcoming legislative battles as January approaches. Observers are watching for further announcements regarding who will ultimately fill the vacant press office.
What to watch next
- Monday discussions between Donald Trump and Dana White in Washington regarding administrative matters and unrelated business.
- Senate Republican leadership evaluations, conferences, and scheduled votes.
- Future announcements from the administration regarding a permanent selection for White House press secretary.
