Trump Taps UFC Chief Dana White for Press Secretary

US President Donald Trump said he had offered UFC chief executive Dana White the job of White House press secretary, publicly urging him to accept. White has not formally confirmed whether he will take the role. He posted an image of himself at the White House briefing-room lectern with the caption “On to the next chapter,” and later reposted Trump’s offer. However, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter, that White had turned it down. The press secretary position has been vacant since October 16, when Katie Zacharia left after only five days in the job and a shaky first briefing. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down at the end of August. Trump made the offer to White a day after naming Stephen Miller as his next chief of staff, following major Republican losses in the midterm elections. White and Trump have a longstanding relationship. White publicly supported Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and appeared with him during his 2024 reelection victory speech. Trump has attended several UFC events since returning to the White House. In June, the White House hosted its first UFC event on the South Lawn, as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US independence.

The article reports that US President Donald Trump said he had offered UFC president and CEO Dana White the job of White House press secretary. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and urged him to accept. White did not explicitly confirm that he would take the position, but posted an image—possibly AI-generated—showing himself at the White House briefing-room lectern with the caption “On to the next chapter.” The press secretary position had been vacant since Katie Zacharia left on October 16, less than a week after taking the job. The article describes White, 57, as the head of the world’s largest and most successful mixed martial arts organization, whose cage fights are broadcast internationally. Trump also asked six current or former UFC titleholders to join White, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. Trump said they were needed to defend the country against the “Lunatic Left.” The White House further amplified the announcement by posting a screenshot of Trump’s message on an official account. The report places the offer within the long-standing relationship between Trump and White, and Trump’s efforts to associate his MAGA political brand with the UFC. It notes that the organization held a cage fight on the White House South Lawn for Trump’s 80th birthday in June, and that Trump has attended UFC bouts in several US cities. White also appeared with Trump after his 2024 reelection victory and later joined Meta’s board of directors, a move interpreted by some as reflecting the technology company’s conservative shift.

US President Donald Trump said on Nov. 8 that he had asked Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White to become White House press secretary. In a Truth Social post, Trump described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and suggested he bring six current or former UFC titleholders to serve as assistants, including fighters from Russia, the United States and Brazil. Trump said the group was needed to defend the country against what he called the “Lunatic Left.” The fighters he named were Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, both from Russia’s Dagestan region; Americans Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and “Kayla Harris,” apparently referring to Kayla Harrison; and Amanda Nunes, a Brazilian native who became a US citizen in 2025. White, speaking to reporters after a boxing event in London on Nov. 7, said he was flying to Washington and planned to meet Trump on Nov. 9. He did not confirm whether he would accept the role, saying he would have more to discuss after the meeting. White had also posted an image—possibly AI-generated—of himself at the White House press briefing lectern, with the caption “On to the next chapter”. The press secretary position was vacant following Katie Zacharia’s departure in October, less than a week after taking the job. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left at the end of August. The article places Trump’s request in the context of his longstanding relationship with White and the UFC. Their professional connection began in the early 2000s, when Trump’s Taj Mahal casino hosted UFC events. White publicly supported Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, and Trump has attended UFC events in recent years. In June, the White House hosted a UFC fight night as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of US independence. The White House communications team already includes Steven Cheung, a former UFC spokesperson who worked for White’s organisation from 2013 to 2016.