Donald Trump has offered UFC president Dana White the job of White House press secretary, in an unusual proposed appointment that would put the mixed martial arts executive at the centre of the US president’s communications operation.
White said he planned to travel from London to Washington and meet Mr Trump at the White House on Monday. He was speaking at a boxing event when asked about the offer, which the president announced in a post on social media.
Mr Trump described Mr White as “the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior” and asked him to become the Republican president’s chief spokesperson.
White appeared uncertain when asked how he would combine the role with his existing work in combat sports. “Yeah, I got a lot of jobs already,” he said.
He declined to discuss his conversations with Mr Trump, adding: “I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about after that.”
Before the news conference, White shared an image of Mr Trump’s post on Instagram alongside a photograph of himself behind the lectern in the White House press briefing room. The image carried the words: “On to the next chapter.”
Mr Trump said he wanted White to bring several UFC fighters with him as “assistants”, saying they were needed to “defend us against the Lunatic Left”. He added: “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
White did not make clear whether he was seriously considering the position. During the same news conference, he spoke about plans to expand Zuffa Boxing, the organisation he runs with Saudi Arabian backers, and stage events around the world.
The proposed appointment comes as the White House undergoes a major shake-up following heavy Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Democrats won historic victories in areas that had been held by Republicans for decades, leaving the party without control of either chamber of Congress.
Mr Trump said on Friday that he was replacing longtime adviser Susie Wiles as chief of staff with Stephen Miller, an aide associated with the administration’s hard-line immigration policies.
The White House has been without a permanent chief spokesperson since Karoline Leavitt left at the end of August. Katie Zacharia briefly took on the press secretary role but left after five days, following a sole appearance before reporters.
Mr Trump and White are close friends, and the president has attended several UFC events with him since returning to the White House in January 2025. In June, the UFC staged an event on the South Lawn for America’s 250th anniversary and Mr Trump’s 80th birthday.
White has also spoken at Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
