Trump offers UFC CEO Dana White press secretary role in Truth Social post

Donald Trump has made an extraordinary offer to Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, asking him to become the next White House press secretary. According to the New York Post ^[1], the president posted on Truth Social that White, whom he described as a "violent Fighter and Warrior," had been offered the job.

Trump’s appeal came with an unusual condition: he requested that White bring assistants including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. As reported by the Daily Mail ^[2], Trump stated these individuals were needed to "defend us against the Lunatic Left," concluding his post with the emphatic plea, "Dana, please take the job!"

The offer follows the abrupt departure of Katie Zacharia, who served as press secretary for just under a week. The BBC News reported ^[3] that the position has been vacant since mid-October, when Zacharia exited after a disastrous first press conference and interview. Her tenure was notably shorter than Anthony Scaramucci’s famous 11-day stint as communications director in 2017, as noted by the Daily Mail ^[2].

Before Zacharia, Karoline Leavitt held the role since the start of Trump’s second administration but resigned in August to focus on motherhood. The Mirror ^[4] highlighted that Trump fired Zacharia after only five days, citing her inability to manage the press corps effectively.

White, who is close friends with Trump and reportedly worth $500 million, has long been a staple in the MAGA world. The Daily Mail ^[2] noted that Trump previously held UFC 250 at the White House, underscoring their personal connection. However, the sincerity of the offer remains unclear. The New York Post ^[1] pointed out that Trump included images of growling fighters and White in a suit, suggesting the move might be tongue-in-cheek. Meanwhile, ABC News (AU) ^[7] confirmed the vacancy remains open while the White House and TKO Holdings have yet to comment.

The timing coincides with Trump’s recent losses in the midterm elections, where Republicans lost their congressional majorities. By offering the role to a figure synonymous with combat sports, Trump appears to be leaning into a confrontational style of governance. Whether White accepts the post remains to be seen, but the request for MMA fighters to join the press briefing room adds a layer of surreal spectacle to Washington’s latest personnel shuffle.