Trump says offer of White House press secretary to UFC chief was a joke

President Donald Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that his earlier announcement proposing UFC chief Dana White for the vacant White House press secretary position was intended as a joke. The president repeated the phrase "I was only kidding" several times while speaking before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, emphasizing that the suggestion was not a serious recruitment effort.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump described White as a "violent fighter and warrior" and suggested that several prominent UFC athletes could serve as assistants to the press secretary, framing the idea as a way to "defend us against the Lunatic Left." The post sparked speculation about a potential appointment and prompted media coverage across multiple outlets.

White, who has been a longtime ally of Trump and helped mobilize support for the former president’s 2024 campaign, confirmed that he would travel to Washington, D.C., for a meeting on Monday. He downplayed the press‑secretary notion, noting his existing responsibilities at the UFC and stating, "I got a lot of jobs already."

Trump added that White "loves the idea" of the role but reiterated that the offer was made in fun. He also mentioned that the press secretary position has been vacant for about a month following the brief tenure of Katie Zacharia, who resigned after five days amid questions about her qualifications.

The exchange occurred as the Republican Party faces a new congressional term controlled by Democrats, and the president’s comments were interpreted by some observers as a rhetorical jab at political opponents. No formal nomination or appointment process has been initiated for the press secretary role.