UFC Head Dana White: Trump Offered Him White House Press Secretary Role
The fighter-turned-executive plans to meet the president Monday to discuss the position, which has been vacant since August amid a major staff turnover.
By Alina Marshall ·
Donald Trump offered the position of White House press secretary to Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, on Saturday. The announcement, made via social media from the president's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, introduces a prominent figure from the sports industry to the administration's communications team. White, who was in London for a boxing event, confirmed he will fly to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday.
The proposal arrives during a period of significant administrative turnover. The press secretary role has been empty since Karoline Leavitt departed at the end of August. A recent attempt to fill the seat with Katie Zacharia ended after five days. Trump announced on Friday that he is replacing longtime adviser Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, the architect of the administration's hard-line immigration policies, as the next chief of staff. These changes follow deep losses for the Republican Party in the midterm elections, which resulted in Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump described White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior" in his post. He requested that White bring several UFC fighters with him to Washington to serve as assistants. The president stated that the administration needs these individuals to defend against the "Lunatic Left" and urged White to accept the job. White shared the post on Instagram, pairing it with a photo of himself standing at the podium in the White House press briefing room. He captioned the image "On to the next chapter."
At a news conference in London, White addressed the offer. When asked how he would balance the new role with his existing responsibilities in the fighting world, he replied, "Yeah, I got a lot of jobs already." He declined to detail prior conversations with the president but noted, "I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that." He also discussed his plans to expand the Zuffa Boxing organization, which he runs with Saudi Arabian backers, and hold more events globally.
The two men have maintained a close relationship since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Trump attended multiple UFC events during that period. In June, the president brought White and the sport to the White House South Lawn for a celebration of America's 250th anniversary of independence and Trump's 80th birthday. A wire-mesh Octagon was constructed near the executive mansion under a structure called "The Claw," a spaceship-like metal arch equipped with lights, sound equipment, and large screens. White later described the event as a one-of-a-kind experience. He also spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
The White House and a spokesperson for the UFC did not respond to messages inquiring about the social media post on Saturday. White's potential appointment would place a major sports executive in charge of daily briefings for the first time. The administration currently operates without a primary spokesperson as it navigates the political fallout from the recent elections.
The meeting scheduled for Monday will be the first step in determining if White will formally accept the role. Trump has previously praised White's leadership and presence. White, in turn, has integrated the sport into high-profile political events. The outcome of their discussion will clarify the future of the press briefing room during a challenging legislative year for the president's party.
Associated Press writers Daniel Gelston in Philadelphia and Jesse Bedayn in Austin, Texas, contributed to the reporting on the administration's internal shifts and the president's social media announcement.
