UFC Chief: Trump asks Dana White to lead press office
The promotion's CEO plans to meet the president Monday after a reported offer to replace the recent departures from the podium.
By Natalie Cooper ·
Donald Trump has asked UFC chief executive Dana White to serve as White House press secretary. The announcement came via the president's Truth Social post on Saturday, where he described White as a violent fighter and warrior. Trump stated he had offered the role to the long-time supporter and invited White to accept the position immediately.
The White House has lacked an official spokesperson since November. Katie Zacharia served only five days before leaving the post. Her departure followed a widely criticized debut. Karoline Leavitt, the previous press secretary, had departed earlier to spend more time with family. She was generally regarded as a calm and competent communicator.
Trump’s post included specific instructions for staffing. He suggested White bring in fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje as assistants. The president claimed the administration needed these figures to defend against the lunatic left. He concluded the message by urging White to take the job, calling him a press secretary like none other.
White currently heads the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is developing Zuffa, a new boxing company. Questions have arisen regarding his capacity to manage these duties alongside a high-pressure media role. CNN reported that White initially declined the offer. However, speaking at a boxing event in London on Sunday, White said he would meet with Trump at the White House on Monday.
The relationship between the two men extends beyond politics. White has spoken at Trump rallies in the past. In June, the UFC hosted an event on the White House lawn. Steven Cheung, the promotion’s former public affairs chief, now serves as the president’s communications director.
Political analyst Calvin Dark suggested the offer might be a tactic to generate headlines. He noted that Trump might have proposed the role facetiously on a Saturday afternoon, expecting a polite refusal. Dark argued that such a move would not be damaging if White said no.
The news follows a major personnel shift in the administration. Stephen Miller replaced Susie Wiles as chief of staff following the president's loss in the mid-term elections this week. Miller is an influential adviser who has taken over the top operational role in the White House.
