President Donald Trump has clarified that his weekend announcement offering UFC CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary was not serious, calling it a joke after the proposal generated widespread attention.
“I will tell you, I was only kidding,” Trump stated when asked about the offer. “Of course I was kidding. And you could see that 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.”
The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social account on Saturday, where he declared his pleasure at offering White the role. The post featured photographs of six UFC competitors whom Trump suggested White could bring along as assistants, including athletes like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump wrote in the post. “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
White House communications director Steven Cheung amplified the announcement by reposting it with an enthusiastic endorsement, asking White to accept the position. However, according to sources, White declined the offer before Trump’s clarification that it was never genuinely extended.
When questioned at a Saturday evening press conference in London following a boxing card, White avoided directly addressing whether he had received or turned down the offer.
“I’m flying to Washington DC right now,” White said. “I have a meeting on Monday. I’m flying to DC right now and I’m sure we’ll have something to talk about after that.”
Trump confirmed White’s upcoming visit during his clarification remarks. “Dana is actually coming tomorrow, actually for other reasons. I think he’s going to be in Washington. So he’s going to come over and see me,” the president said.
The position would have required considerable financial sacrifice for White, who reportedly earns $20 million annually as UFC president and CEO, compared to the press secretary role’s salary of $195,200.
Trump’s explanation emphasized the absurdity of the proposal as evidence of its satirical nature. “When you look at the athletes that I put in, that’s why I said some don’t come from our country. They come from parts unknown. They come from a lot of areas that are very rough areas. So I was kidding,” Trump explained.
Despite the president’s insistence that the offer was humorous, Trump acknowledged that some observers found merit in the idea.
“That was an example of something where I was kidding. And then people said, you know, that’s actually a pretty good idea,” he remarked. Trump also noted that White himself appeared receptive to the concept, stating “Dana loves the idea.”
President Trump on offering Dana White the job of White House Press Secretary: “I was only kidding.” https://t.co/LRzM2bIrNr
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 9, 2026
The episode comes as Trump continues searching for a permanent press secretary following a series of rapid departures from the position. Karoline Leavitt served in the role for approximately eighteen months before leaving in August, citing a desire to spend more time with her young family. She later joined Fox News as a contributor in October.
Katie Zacharia followed Leavitt but was dismissed after just five days, making her tenure the shortest in the position’s history. Her single briefing was reportedly problematic, leading to her swift removal.
White has maintained a close relationship with Trump for years, serving as one of his most visible supporters. He has spoken at the last three Republican National Conventions and played a notable role in connecting Trump with younger male voters during the 2024 election campaign.
In June 2026, Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, an effort designed to appeal to younger male voters.
MMA analyst Luke Thomas weighed in on the situation before Trump’s clarification, calling the prospect “absurd on its face” and likely “a troll job.” Thomas questioned White’s current qualifications for such a role, despite acknowledging his past effectiveness as a promoter.
“Dana White used to be a very effective promoter,” Thomas explained in a recent video. “But anybody who watches UFC at a beyond a casual level and I’m talking about people who watch press conferences, he’s giving the worst press conferences of his entire career.”
Thomas cited multiple instances this year where White appeared unprepared at international events. “The local media is asking about like who are your favorite athletes on this card and what are you most looking forward to? And he can’t give them any kind of an answer. He doesn’t know anyone on the card,” Thomas said.
The analyst questioned White’s ability to handle substantive policy questions. “Can he really articulate the administration’s views, messaging and priorities around energy markets, around healthcare subsidies?” Thomas asked.
Thomas predicted potential consequences if the offer had been genuine: “I cannot imagine something that would destroy what’s left of Dana White’s reputation faster than this. He’d get eaten alive and would be miscommunicating left and right or just saying nothing at all.”
The press secretary role has taken on heightened significance following the November midterm elections, in which Democrats secured majorities in both the House and Senate.
