President Donald Trump has publicly offered UFC CEO Dana White the White House press secretary position, asking the longtime ally to accept the role in a Truth Social post.
Trump announced the proposed appointment on Saturday, describing White as a fighter and warrior.
He also suggested that several prominent UFC fighters, including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes, join White as assistants.
The president said he wanted the fighters to help defend his administration against political opponents.
However, his post did not establish whether the proposal was a formal appointment or whether White had agreed to take the position.
White responded by sharing a photograph on Instagram showing himself standing behind the podium in the White House press briefing room. He captioned the image, “On to the next chapter,” without directly confirming his decision.
Why Dana White’s Possible Appointment Is Notable
White has led the UFC since 2001 and became its CEO in 2023. His relationship with Trump dates back to the early 2000s, when the president hosted UFC events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
White has also faced confrontations with journalists during UFC news conferences. In 2020, he released a video criticizing reporters who questioned the organization’s decision to continue holding fights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The White House press secretary position became vacant in October after Katie Zacharia left following only a few days in the role.
The BBC said it had contacted the White House and TKO Holdings, UFC’s parent company, for comment. Neither organization’s response was included in its report.
Sources: BBC News
