Trump Says He Offered UFC's Dana White the White House Press Secretary Job; CNN Source Says White Declined

President Donald Trump said Saturday, Nov. 7, that he had offered the job of White House press secretary to his longtime friend Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Whether the offer was serious, and whether White will take it, was still unclear by Saturday evening.

Short answer: Dana White is not confirmed as the new press secretary. Trump announced an offer on social media. White posted a teasing image, and a source told CNN he declined.

What Trump posted

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social while at his golf club in Florida, the Associated Press reported.

“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,” he wrote, according to CBS News and CNN.

Trump added that he’d asked White to bring along “assistants,” naming UFC figures Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harris. “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” he wrote. “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”

White House communications director Steven Cheung reposted the message with “Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!” CNN reported.

Serious offer or a joke?

The reporting is mixed, so here’s what each outlet found:

• AP: Nobody at the White House immediately confirmed the offer, and no one would say whether Trump was joking.
• The Washington Post: It was unclear whether the post amounted to an official offer, and Trump didn’t lay out any next steps.
• CBS News: White shared an image of himself at the White House briefing room podium on his Instagram story with the caption “On to the next chapter.” At least one outlet suggested Trump’s post may have been tongue-in-cheek.
• CNN: A source familiar with the matter said White declined the “unorthodox idea,” and one aide said Trump was joking.

White and the UFC hadn’t put out a formal statement in the coverage reviewed here. CBS News and CNN both said they had reached out to the White House and the UFC for comment.

Why the press secretary job is open

The post has been vacant since Oct. 16, CBS News reported. That’s when conservative commentator Katie Zacharia was removed after just five days, which CNN called the shortest stint in history. Trump fired her after one rocky briefing.

Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who stepped aside in August after about a year and a half, saying she wanted to spend more time with her young family. CNN reported that Leavitt joined Fox News as a contributor this month.

The search has taken on more weight since Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in this week’s midterm elections, CBS News and CNN noted. Democrats have pledged to investigate the administration.

Who is Dana White?

White runs the UFC, a global promotion that CBS News said is valued at more than $15 billion. He’s one of Trump’s most visible allies. CNN noted he spoke at the last three Republican National Conventions and helped the GOP reach young male voters.

White attended Trump’s inauguration. The White House also hosted a UFC event on the South Lawn this summer to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, which coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday, CBS News reported.

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