Trump offers White House press secretary role to UFC CEO Dana White

President Donald Trump, under pressure after a midterm election defeat, has publicly offered the White House press secretary position to Dana White, CEO of the world's largest mixed martial arts organization, the UFC — a move that has drawn widespread curiosity about his true intentions. The offer came with an unusual addendum: Trump named six prominent UFC fighters, including Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje, as potential members of White's staff.

Trump announced the offer Saturday on his Truth Social account, praising White as a tough warrior and urging him to accept, saying he would be unlike any press secretary the White House has ever seen.

Trump named six current and retired UFC stars as candidates for White's staff: Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia, and Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison of the United States.

Reuters noted that Trump appeared to have misspelled Harrison's surname as "Harris" in the post. The wire service also noted that Makhachev and Khabib are from Dagestan, Russia, and that Nunes, a Brazilian-born fighter, obtained US citizenship last year.

Trump acknowledged that some of the fighters are not American-born but insisted they should be brought on board, saying he needed tough individuals to stand up against political opponents.

White responded to the offer on Instagram, posting an AI-generated image of himself standing at the White House briefing room podium alongside a caption suggesting he was heading into a new chapter.

White was also asked about the offer at a boxing press conference in London on Sunday. He said he was scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Monday and that he would have more to say after that meeting, but stopped short of saying whether he would actually take the job.

The offer drew attention from major US news outlets. The Associated Press described it as an unusual announcement even by the standards of Trump, who is known for unconventional personnel decisions. AP also noted that neither the White House nor the UFC immediately confirmed the authenticity of the offer.

Doubts remain about whether an actual appointment will follow. CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that White had turned down the offer. Trump's camp also suggested the president had been joking. No formal appointment announcement has been made.

The remarks came as the White House communications operation has been in flux. Caroline Levitt stepped down as press secretary last August, and her successor, Katie Zacharia, left the post just five days after taking it, on Oct. 16.

AP also noted that the reshuffling of key Trump administration staff has accelerated since the Republican Party lost its majority in both chambers of Congress to the Democratic Party in the recent midterm elections. Trump recently announced he would replace White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller.

CNN highlighted White's role in helping expand Trump's political base, noting that his influence over young male audiences and combat sports fans helped Trump reach new voter demographics in the 2024 presidential election.

The two men's relationship stretches back to the early 2000s, when UFC events were held at Trump-owned casinos. White went on to publicly support Trump at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

In June, UFC Freedom 250 was held on the South Lawn of the White House to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, with Trump and White appearing together at the event and putting their long friendship on display.

The White House communications office already has a UFC connection. According to Reuters, White House communications director Steven Cheung served as a UFC spokesperson from 2013 to 2016. Cheung also responded to Trump's post welcoming White's potential addition to the team.

The prospect of a combat sports executive being floated as a White House press secretary — with active and retired fighters appearing on a proposed staff list — is highly unusual. Whether it translates into an actual appointment remains unclear. Attention now turns to what emerges from the meeting White has said he will have with Trump.