Donald Trump has publicly offered UFC president Dana White the job of White House press secretary, prompting the mixed martial arts executive to fly to Washington for a meeting with the US president.
Trump described White as “a violent fighter and warrior” and suggested he bring fighters from around the world, including Russians Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, to serve as assistants.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
The post included a mock-up of White standing behind a press briefing podium alongside images of several MMA fighters. It was unclear whether the offer was intended seriously or as one of Trump’s political jokes, although White reshared it on Instagram with the caption: “on to the next chapter”.
Speaking at a press conference in London, White said he was “flying to Washington DC right now” and acknowledged that he already had “a lot of jobs”.
“I’m going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday so I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about after that,” White said.
White and Trump are friends, and the president hosted a UFC event at the White House in June as part of official celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
The proposal comes as the Trump administration faces a period of upheaval following Democrats’ victory in both chambers of Congress at last week’s midterm elections. Trump replaced White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, a hardline aide, in what was described as the beginning of an aggressive restructuring of his staff.
The president has also ordered the Department of Justice to investigate what he called “Weaponisation and Lawfare” by Democrats who threatened to investigate or impeach senior administration officials.
Trump alleged, without offering evidence, that Democrats were threatening Republican donors with imprisonment, potentially in connection with their intention to examine corporate donations to a new White House ballroom. “This is extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable for this,” he wrote. “These SLEAZEBAGS should go to jail for what they are doing.”
The White House press secretary position has effectively been vacant since Karoline Leavitt went on maternity leave in April. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio filled in intermittently before Leavitt briefly returned in July and resigned in August.
Last month, media commentator Katie Zacharia served five days in the role before leaving after an unimpressive first appearance in which she stumbled through a prepared script and took few questions.
