Trump Admits Offer to UFC Chief for Press Secretary Role Was Just a Joke

UPDATE - follow-up to Trump says he offered UFC's Dana White the press secretary role: President Trump admitted he was only joking when he posted that he offered the empty White House press secretary job to UFC CEO Dana White. On Saturday, Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he offered the role to White, adding that White should bring along UFC fighters like Islam Makhachev and Amanda Nunes as assistants. The very next day, Mr. Trump told reporters he was just having some fun and that the list of fighter assistants was the clue. Before the clarification, Dana White posted a photo of himself at the White House press briefing room podium with the caption "On to the next chapter." While promoting a boxing event in London, White smiled and told reporters he was flying to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president on Monday. Mr. Trump confirmed the Monday meeting would still happen without sharing why. The White House press secretary position has stayed empty since Katie Zacharia was removed on October 16 after just five days on the job. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left in August to spend time with her family.

Context

Dana White is the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has been a close ally of Mr. Trump for many years. The President's lighthearted remarks arrived right after Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections.