Trump says he was joking about offering Dana White the press secretary job. White will still visit Monday.
President Donald Trump said Sunday he was “only kidding” when he announced a day earlier that he had offered UFC CEO Dana White the White House press secretary job. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said White “loves the idea” and called him very capable. He said the roster of UFC fighters he had named as potential assistants should have signaled it was a joke.
Trump said White will visit the White House on Monday but that the meeting was planned for other reasons. Trump also posted an animated video on Truth Social showing White and UFC fighters in the briefing room, according to The Hill, which said the fighters were shown attacking reporters.
White had posted a photo of himself at the briefing room podium on Instagram on Saturday, captioned “On to the next chapter.” USA Today’s MMA Junkie reported that White’s X account was promoting UFC fights within an hour of Trump’s post.
The press secretary job has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left in October after five days.
This report draws on The Associated Press, CBC News, Fox News, The Hill and USA Today.