Trump Calls Dana White Press Sec Offer a Joke
President Trump clarifies his joke about naming Dana White as press secretary, as White declines the offer.
3 min read
President Donald Trump has clarified that his earlier suggestion to appoint UFC CEO Dana White as the next White House press secretary was a joke, after White publicly indicated he was flying to Washington for a meeting with the president.
Trump Clarifies Offer Was a Joke
Speaking to Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he was only kidding about the idea, despite White’s apparent interest in the role. “I was only kidding,” Trump said, adding that White “loves the idea” and is “great.” Trump explained that the initial post on Truth Social was meant as a humorous announcement, listing UFC fighters as potential assistants for White.
“You would have thought that people would have said he’s having a good time,” Trump said, referring to the public reaction to the post. “But so I was kidding, of course.” Trump added that White was still expected to visit him in Washington on Monday, though he said the UFC executive would be coming for other reasons. “He’s actually coming tomorrow,” Trump said. “I think he’s going to be in Washington, so he’s going to come over and see me.”
White’s Response and the Offer
Trump first teased the appointment on Saturday, posting on Truth Social that White had been offered the job and urging him to accept. “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent fighter and warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States,” Trump wrote. He then named a list of UFC fighters as White’s proposed assistants, saying the group was needed to “defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
White appeared to play along with the announcement, telling reporters on Saturday that he was flying to Washington and had a meeting scheduled with Trump on Monday. He also posted an AI-generated video depicting himself at the White House press briefing podium, captioned, “On to the next chapter.” However, a source close to White told CNN that he had declined the offer, and White had not publicly confirmed whether he intended to accept before Trump clarified that the announcement was not serious.
Friendship and Past Collaborations
Trump and White have been friends for years, with Trump frequently attending UFC events and the two recently working together to organize a UFC event on the White House South Lawn, held on the president’s 80th birthday. The press secretary position has been in flux since the departure of Karoline Leavitt, with Katie Zacharia briefly holding the role for five days before transitioning out.
Trump’s latest comments appear to put an end to speculation that White might take over the briefing room, though the president left little doubt that he remains an admirer of the UFC chief. “I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy,” Trump said. “That was an example of something where I was kidding, and then people said, ‘You know, that’s actually a pretty good idea.’”
Source: Daily Wire
