Trump offers White House press secretary job to UFC head Dana White

President Donald Trump says he has offered the vacant White House press secretary position to Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White. Trump made the announcement Saturday in a post on Truth Social, describing White as a violent fighter and warrior. Trump also stated he asked White to bring several MMA fighters as assistants to help defend against political opponents, listing Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. It remains unclear whether White will accept the job offer. However, White shared an image of himself on his Instagram story standing at the White House press briefing room podium with the caption reading on to the next chapter. Reports from at least one media outlet suggested Trump's post might have been made tongue-in-cheek. Both the White House and the UFC have been contacted for additional comment. The press secretary job has been empty since October sixteenth when conservative commentator Katie Zacharia left the position after serving for only five days. Zacharia had been chosen after Karoline Leavitt stepped down in August to spend more time with her young family. Trump's latest remarks arrive just days after Democrats won the midterm elections and gained control of both the House and the Senate. Dana White leads the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a global sports league valued at over fifteen billion dollars. White is a longtime supporter of Trump and was present at his inauguration. The White House previously hosted a fighting event on the South Lawn in July to celebrate the nation's two hundred fiftieth anniversary, which fell on the same day as Trump's eightieth birthday. Trump urged White to take the position in his social media post, stating he would be a press secretary like no other.

Context

The White House press secretary serves as the primary spokesperson for the president and manages daily communication with journalists covering the administration. The position carries high public visibility and requires constant interaction with the national news media. White has maintained a close personal and public alliance with Trump for years, frequently appearing at political rallies and high-profile events.