President Donald Trump announced on November 7 that he has offered UFC President Dana White the position of White House Press Secretary. This offer comes as the role has been vacant for about three weeks. However, it remains unclear whether White has accepted the position.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "The great Dana White, a violent fighter and warrior, has been offered the position of White House Press Secretary." He publicly urged White, saying, "Dana, please take this job."
Trump suggested that White bring along fighters such as Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison. He noted that some of these fighters are not American but insisted, "We need these people to protect us from the crazy left."
During a press conference related to a boxing event in London, White avoided questions about the press secretary offer. He mentioned, "I’m currently on a flight to Washington, D.C., and I have a meeting scheduled for Monday (the 9th). I can talk more after the meeting," according to local media including The Washington Post. However, CNN reported, citing sources, that White has declined the offer.
The White House has not officially commented on the specifics of the proposal. However, a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Washington Post that the offer was made in jest.
Following a historic defeat for the Republican Party in the midterm elections, President Trump is pursuing a reshuffle of White House personnel. The press secretary position has been vacant since Katie Zakaria stepped down just five days after taking office last month. The press secretary is a key role responsible for communicating the administration's positions to the media and the public, making it one of the most visible and influential positions within the White House.
White, 57, is widely recognized for transforming the UFC into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. He was one of the early celebrities to publicly endorse Trump when he first ran for president in 2016. The two have maintained a friendship for 25 years, often appearing together at UFC events.
Trump's affection for the UFC is notable; in June, he hosted a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate his 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, with White playing a key role in organizing the event.
The Washington Post noted that if White were to actually take the press secretary position, it would be an unusual appointment. However, accepting the role could raise potential conflicts of interest, as he leads a multi-billion dollar sports enterprise that has extensive advertising and sponsorship agreements with major U.S. companies. White is also a board member of the social media company Meta.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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