Dana White Turns Down Trump’s Offer to Become White House Press Secretary

UFC Chief Executive Officer Dana White has declined an offer from US President Donald Trump to serve as the White House press secretary, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Trump announced the offer in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, describing White as a “fighter” and urging him to take the position.

“I am pleased to announce that Dana White has been offered the position of United States Press Secretary. He is a fighter,” Trump wrote.

In the post, Trump also suggested that six UFC fighters be appointed as White’s assistants. He shared photographs of the six fighters alongside his announcement.

“We need these people to protect us from the ‘crazy’ left. Dana would be a different kind of Press Secretary. Dana, please take the job!” Trump added.

However, a White House official said the offer was intended as a joke.

When asked about the matter at a press conference on Saturday, White did not directly comment on the proposal. He only said he planned to travel to Washington, DC, on Monday to meet with Trump.

The White House press secretary position has reportedly faced considerable uncertainty in the Trump administration in recent months, with the president searching for a suitable replacement following the departure of Karoline Leavitt.

Katie Zachariah was subsequently appointed to the position but was dismissed just five days later. Reports said Trump removed her after she failed to handle a press conference to his satisfaction. Her brief tenure was reportedly the shortest in the history of the White House press secretary's office.

Leavitt stepped down last August after serving for approximately a year and a half, saying she wanted to spend more time with her children. She joined Fox News earlier this month.

Trump's efforts to fill the important communications role also come amid growing political pressure. Following the Democrats' takeover of Congress, the party announced plans to launch investigations into the Trump administration, making the appointment of a suitable press secretary an increasingly challenging task.

White has maintained a close relationship with Trump for many years. The UFC chief has spoken at the Republican Party's last three national conventions and played a significant role in helping Trump return to the White House.

Earlier this year, speaking about White's political influence, Trump said White had introduced him to people he had never heard of before, particularly young men who conducted interviews with him.

“He introduced me to some people that I never heard of before. Young guys. I saw 20-year-old guys interviewing me. I asked him, how do you know these people? They're influencers,” Trump said.

CNN said it had contacted both the White House and the UFC for further details about White's decision to decline the offer. However, neither had responded by the time the report was published.