Donald Trump Offers White House Press Secretary Role to UFC Chief Executive Dana White

United States President Donald Trump has offered the position of White House press secretary to Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White. The president announced the proposal in a social media post, describing the sports executive as a fighter and warrior, and requesting that he bring six UFC fighters to serve as press aides alongside him. The president's post included illustrations featuring artificial intelligence-generated imagery and photographs of fighters Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison.

The press secretary position has remained vacant for three weeks following the resignation of the previous appointee, Katie Zacharia. Observers questioned whether the public offer was a serious administrative plan or an attempt to shift focus away from significant electoral losses suffered by the president's party during recent midterm elections. Financial analysts also noted the stark contrast between White's reported fortune exceeding $600m earned through running the UFC and the standard government salary of $195,000 per year for the press secretary role.

Initial reports regarding White's response varied. CNN reported that White had declined the offer and that an anonymous presidential aide described the proposal as a joke. However, White subsequently published an Instagram story featuring a photograph of himself inside the White House briefing room with the caption reading that he was moving on to the next chapter.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference following a boxing match in London, White addressed the situation directly. He confirmed that he was traveling to Washington DC to hold a scheduled meeting with the president. White did not state whether he intended to accept the offered government position, telling reporters that he would have more to discuss following the meeting.

White has previously been a vocal supporter of the president, having campaigned during the 2024 presidential election and spoken at the Republican national convention. He also organized a cage-fighting event at the White House in June to mark the president's 80th birthday, an event later featured in taxpayer-funded administration advertisements broadcast ahead of the midterm elections.