Trump Admits to ‘Joking’ About White Job Offer
President Donald Trump admitted he was joking when he said he offer the role of White House press secretary to UFC boss Dana White. "I will tell you, I was only kidding," Trump sa… — by Sandra Rhodes
FaithTap · Nov 9, 2026 · 2 min read
By Sandra Rhodes (/journals/sandra-rhodes)
President Donald Trump admitted he was joking when he said he offer the role of White House press secretary to UFC boss Dana White.
"I will tell you, I was only kidding," Trump said Sunday when asked what prompted the pitch and whether he was serious.
Trump pointed to the fighters he had named as White’s would-be assistants, saying the lineup should have given the joke away. "And you see a lot of rough faces there," he said.
He also joked that some of the fighters came from "parts unknown."
Trump said he thought White liked the idea and called him "a very capable guy."
As for how White might handle the job, Trump said, "You wouldn’t mess around with him so much."
"But Dana is actually coming tomorrow," Trump said.
He added White’s visit was for other reasons, adding he believed White already planned to be in Washington and would stop by to see him.
Even though he claimed he was joking, Trump said some people took to the idea of White as press secretary.
"And then people said, you know, that’s actually a pretty good idea," he said.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday he had offered White the job. His post named UFC stars including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes as prospective assistants.
White shared Trump’s post on his Instagram Story. He included a photo of himself behind the White House podium. He captioned the photo, "On to the next chapter."
The news cames after Katie Zacharia’s departure as press secretary after five days on the job.
Asked Oct. 23 about finding a replacement, Trump told reporters, "We’re in no rush."
Trump and White have known each other for decades. White introduced Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention and joined him on the White House South Lawn in June for UFC Freedom 250.
White told Sports Business Journal in November 2024 that he had "no personal political aspirations" when asked about a possible role in Trump’s incoming administration.