Donald Trump staged an impromptu White House press briefing alongside UFC chief executive Dana White, after joking days earlier that he could become the president’s next press secretary.
White was asked by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins whether he had accepted the role recently vacated by Katie Zacharia and Karoline Leavitt.
“I don’t tell the president no to anything,” he replied. “I didn’t say no.”
Trump said he had been “sort of kidding” when he floated White’s appointment last week, following what he described as “a very bad press day”. He said the media had nevertheless treated the remark as a serious announcement and “wrote the stories”.
Bringing the UFC executive into the briefing room, the president said, was “for a little fun”. By the end of the appearance, however, White made clear that he did not want the press secretary’s job or any other position in politics.
The appearance also turned to Iran, with Trump saying the United States was “locked and loaded” and prepared to resume full-scale military action if necessary.
“We’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason,” he said, while adding that military action did not currently appear to be necessary.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier left San Diego for the Middle East in September to join the USS George Washington and the USS George H W Bush. The deployment adds roughly 9,000 to 10,000 sailors and Marines.
Trump said he had pledged not to strike Iran until after last Tuesday’s midterm elections, although it was unclear whether he had authorised any further attacks. He also said Iranian representatives were speaking with US counterparts.
“They’re talking to us, and they’re talking very politely,” the president said. “I hope we’re going to be able to make a deal with them.”
The briefing became confrontational when reporters questioned Trump about domestic politics and his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Asked about an impeachment effort against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth led by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, Trump interrupted Collins and said: “Massie’s a loser, talking over Collins. He’s a loser just like you at CNN.”
He later challenged MS NOW reporter Vaugh Hillyard by asking, “Who are you with?” After Hillyard identified his network, Trump said: “MS Now gets the worst ratings … used to be MSDNC … you’re a fake network.”
“What a joke you are,” Trump added before moving on to another question.
