President Donald Trump has clarified that he was joking when he announced that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White had been offered the position of White House press secretary on November 7, 2026, via a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
After tons of buzz in the media and on social media about his post, Trump spoke to reporters late on November 8 and told them it was a joke, even though White had informed reporters hours earlier that he was hopping on a flight to Washington D.C. to discuss the opportunity with Trump.
Trump Says Dana White ‘Likes the Idea’ of Being Press Secretary
When Trump stopped to talk to reporters in West Palm Beach on Sunday night, Fox News broadcast the update, capturing the press asking the president about his offer to White.
“I will tell you, I was only kidding,” he told the press. “But Dana loves the idea. There is only one Dana. You would not mess around with him so much. I was kidding, of course.”
“When you look at the fighters that I put in (to the post), that’s why I said some don’t come from parts unknown,” he continued. “They come from a lot of areas and very rough areas. But he is a very capable guy. Of course, I was kidding, and you can see because I put all of the great fighters as his assistants that they’re all going to come with him. But it was just a little fun.”
“But I think Dana likes the idea and he is a very capable guy,” Trump added. “But Dana is actually coming tomorrow, actually, for other reasons. I think he was going to be in Washington, so he’s gonna come over and see me.”
The president then noted, “That was an example of something where I was kidding and that people said, ‘That’s actually a pretty good idea.'”
Trump Posted a Cartoon Video of Dana White & His ‘Assistants’ Joining the White House Press Team
On November 7, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States.”
Referencing numerous UFC fighters, the post continued, “I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
Trump included a photo of White standing at the White House press room podium, and photos of the fighters he mentioned in his post. The next morning, he posted an animated video that showed White taking the job and his “assistants” beating up reporters in the press room.
White hosted a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn over the summer, part of Trump’s celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The White House press secretary position has been open since October 16, when Katie Zacharia was let go after serving for just five days.
Trump Claims He Was ‘Only Kidding’ About Dana White Becoming White House Press Secretary