At a White House news conference on Monday, Dana White found himself behind the presidential briefing room podium, facing reporters who usually direct their questions to the press secretary. The UFC boss seemed amused by the unusual experience, joking, “I’ve always wanted to do this,” before adding, “Who has the first question?”
White quickly made sure nobody mistook his appearance for a career announcement. “I have zero political aspirations,” he told the room.
The unusual invitation had started two days earlier, when Trump announced on Truth Social that he had offered White the position of White House press secretary.
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States,” Trump wrote. He finished the post with a request: “Dana, please take the job!”
Trump even suggested that White bring several UFC fighters with him as assistants, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
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White was in London attending a boxing event when Trump made the announcement. He later explained how he found out about the offer, saying: “He called me and told me that he had done this. The last 24 hours of my life has been insane.”
He also posted a photograph of himself standing behind the White House briefing podium, accompanied by the caption, “On to the next chapter.” That was enough to leave people wondering whether he was actually considering the job.
Dana White posted on Instagram, “On to the next chapter” with what appears to be an AI-generated image of him at the White House briefing room lectern. SynthID says it was made or edited with OpenAI tools. https://t.co/3l5Xffxc0P
— Scott Nover (@ScottNover) November 7, 2026
Trump, however, had already started walking back the announcement by Sunday. Speaking to reporters, he said: “I was only kidding.” He later explained that he had been having “a very bad press day” when White’s name occurred to him.
“I said I think I’m going to get Dana White to be our next press secretary,” Trump recalled. He added that he thought White would be “fantastic” in the position.
President Donald Trump, alongside UFC CEO Dana White, clarifies he was only joking about making him his press secretary:
“I said, ‘I think I’m going to get Dana White to be my new press secretary.’ I said it to a group of the press, and that was it. I was only kidding.” https://t.co/7qY37iTuxg
— Mike Dixon (@MikeDixon_VST) November 9, 2026
By Monday, Trump had brought his longtime friend into the briefing room and decided to revisit the offer in front of reporters.
“Would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America?” he asked White, before offering him another choice: “Or just want to stay with this ridiculous UFC?”
White thanked him but was not interested.
“Thank you for the offer, sir. I do not want to be in politics, no,” he replied.
Trump responded with a line of his own: “I am devastated to hear this. Goodbye, everybody.”
Trump’s bizarre press briefing ends with Dana White turning down the press secretary job https://t.co/YACwp3SjXk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 9, 2026
White’s political support for Trump has never been much of a secret. He spoke at the 2016 and 2024 Republican National Conventions, introduced Trump at the latter and has regularly appeared alongside him at UFC events. The two also joined forces for UFC Freedom 250, held on the White House lawn in June as part of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday.
The press secretary position has had a short and rather unsettled history in recent months. Karoline Leavitt left the job in August following the birth of her second child. Her replacement, Katie Zacharia, lasted just five days after taking the position in October.
Featured image via X screengrab
