US President Donald Trump has clarified that he was joking when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could become the next White House press secretary.
Trump made the surprise announcement on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, claiming he had offered White the position following the departure of Katie Zacharia in October. The president suggested White would bring several current and former UFC fighters with him as assistants, writing: “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
However, speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump admitted the offer was not serious. “I will tell you, I was only kidding. But Dana loves the idea. And there’s only one Dana. He’s great,” Trump said. “But, it was it was just a little fun.”
White had previously addressed the suggestion during a press conference on Saturday, pointing to his existing professional commitments. “Lot of jobs already,” White said, before confirming he was scheduled to meet Trump on Monday. “I’m sure we’ll have something to talk about after that,” he added.
The UFC boss has maintained a longstanding relationship with Trump, having spoken in support of his presidential campaigns at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024. White also joined Trump on stage during his victory celebrations following the 2024 presidential election.
Alongside his responsibilities with the UFC, White oversees Power Slap and the recently launched Zuffa Boxing promotion, while also serving on the board of Meta. Trump confirmed that Monday’s planned meeting would go ahead, although he indicated that White would be visiting the White House for other reasons.
