Trump Asks UFC Chief Dana White to Take Over as White House Press Secretary

UPDATE - follow-up to 'Dana, please take the job!' - Trump asks UFC boss to be White House press secretary: US President Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social asking Ultimate Fighting Championship boss Dana White to become the next White House press secretary. Trump described White as a fighter and asked him to bring several high-profile fighters to defend against political opponents, while White later shared a photo of himself behind the White House briefing room lectern with the caption 'On to the next chapter.'

Details

The White House press secretary position has been vacant since mid-October following the departure of Katie Zacharia after a short tenure, arriving as Republicans face congressional losses from midterm elections. Trump's post included requests for figures like Russian fighter Islam Makhachev, though it remains unconfirmed if the offer is serious. The BBC has contacted the White House, UFC, and parent company TKO Group Holdings for comment.

Background

Dana White is a longtime friend and ally of Trump, having previously credited Trump with saving the UFC in 2001 by hosting events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino when other venues banned the sport. White also manages multiple business ventures including Power Slap, Zuffa Boxing, and a board position at Meta, raising questions about whether he can commit to the demanding press secretary role. Earlier report (2026-11-08 02:16): U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, November 7, 2026, that he wants Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White to take the role of White House press secretary. Mr. Trump shared this idea on Truth Social, describing the mixed martial arts boss as a warrior and fighter.

Team Request

Alongside Mr. White, the U.S. President asked for half a dozen present or past UFC champions to join the administration as assistants, noting that some of these athletes come from outside the United States. The named fighters include Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov from Russia's Dagestan region, alongside Americans Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, and a likely reference to Kayla Harrison named as Kayla Harris. The list also features Amanda Nunes, who is a Brazilian native and secured American citizenship last year.

Context

President Trump stated he wants these athletes to help defend the administration against his political opponents. Representatives for Mr. White and the UFC parent company, TKO Group Holdings, did not immediately reply to requests seeking comment on the announcement.