Trump offers press secretary role to Dana White; UFC boss to meet with president

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he offered the job of White House press secretary to his friend and UFC boss Dana White, who told reporters that he has a meeting with the president Monday.

Trump, while he was at his golf club in Florida, posted on social media that he made the offer to “the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior” to become the Republican president’s chief spokesperson.

Trump said he requested that White bring along several UFC fighters as “assistants,” adding on social media, “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”

Speaking to reporters during a postfight news conference in London on Saturday, White said he’s flying to Washington, D.C., “right now.” White did not say if he had accepted or rejected the offer.

CNN reported earlier Saturday, citing a source familiar with the matter, that White was not taking the job.

“I’m going to meet with [Trump],” White said. “We have a meeting on Monday, so I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about after that.”

The White House did not respond Saturday to messages inquiring about the Truth Social post.

Before talking to reporters, White shared an image of Trump’s post on Instagram, along with an image of himself standing behind the lectern in the White House press briefing room with the words “On to the next chapter.”

Trump’s post came as his White House is in a period of major transition and struggling with his party’s deep losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The historic wins by Democratic candidates, including in areas that Republicans had held for decades, led to the GOP losing control of both chambers of Congress.

Trump on Friday announced that he was replacing his longtime adviser Susie Wiles, who was seen as a tempering force on the president’s impulses, with aide Stephen Miller to serve as the next chief of staff. Miller is known as the architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration policies and is among the most determined of Trump’s inner circle.

The shake-up at the heart of Trump’s administration follows the brief but tumultuous week when Trump tried out a new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, who seemed uncomfortable in her sole appearance in front of reporters before leaving the job after five days.

The post had been vacant since Karoline Leavitt left at the end of August. Trump remains without a chief spokesperson.

Trump is close friends with White and has attended several UFC events with him since returning to the White House in January 2025.

He brought White and the sport to the White House’s South Lawn in June for the celebration of America’s 250th year of independence and the president’s 80th birthday. A wire-mesh Octagon was constructed near the executive mansion under “The Claw,” a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lights, sound equipment and large screens.

“It was an amazing experience; this was a one-of-one,” White said afterward.

White also spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.