WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump publicly offered the position of White House press secretary to Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White on Saturday, proposing that the mixed martial arts promoter bring prominent fighters along to aid him in the briefing room.
In a message posted Saturday afternoon to his Truth Social account, Trump described the 57-year-old fight executive as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and asked him to take over the briefing lectern.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump wrote. “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
The president also listed several mixed martial arts stars whom he suggested White bring as assistants, including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris, “even though some are not from our Country,” according to Trump’s post.
White did not immediately confirm whether he intended to take the role. Shortly after Trump’s message appeared online, however, White shared an image on his Instagram stories showing himself behind the White House press podium with the text, “On to the next chapter,” outlets including CNBC and Yahoo Sports reported. Representatives for the White House and the UFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Long Partnership and Staffing Turmoil
Trump and White have maintained a public alliance dating back to 2001, when Trump hosted UFC events at his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during an era when few venues would sanction the sport. White has since delivered speeches endorsing Trump at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
In June, Trump hosted a live fight promotion called UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Administration ties to the promotion company run deep; White House Communications Director Steven Cheung previously worked in media relations for the UFC before joining the political operation, the New York Post reported.
The public recruitment campaign arrives amid major executive branch staffing changes following midterm elections on Tuesday, in which Democrats captured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. On Friday, Trump elevated deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, CNBC reported.
Turnover at the Press Lectern
The role of press secretary has been vacant for three weeks following the swift departure of Katie Zacharia, who stepped down after only five days in the post. The brief tenure marked the shortest run for an aide in Trump’s administration, eclipsing Anthony Scaramucci’s 11-day appointment in 2017.
Zacharia’s sole appearance in the briefing room drew immediate scrutiny after she took questions from only three conservative outlets in an appearance lasting between five and 15 minutes, according to differing media accounts of the briefing. Trump told reporters outside the White House on Oct. 16 that he asked her whether the job was right for her, prompting her exit.
Zacharia had succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who stepped away from the podium in August following the birth of her child and later left the post entirely to become a Fox News contributor. During the vacancy, cabinet officials including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio handled several administration briefings.
Whether Trump extended a formal administrative offer or intended the post as a symbolic show of support remains unclear, as White has not submitted a formal acceptance or commented beyond his social media post.
