Trump says offer to make UFC boss White the White House spokesperson was 'just for fun'

US President Donald Trump said his earlier offer to make Dana White, the UFC president and a close ally, the White House spokesperson was "just a joke."

Trump made the remarks Sunday (local time) while speaking to reporters on his way back to the White House from an airport in Palm Beach, Florida.

"It was just for fun," Trump added.

Asked about media reports that White might fly back from Britain on Monday to meet with him, Trump said White was "coming to Washington for a different reason" and would therefore stop by to see him.

Trump had earlier announced Sunday that he had offered White the role of White House spokesperson.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called White "a vicious fighter and a warrior" and said he was "pleased to announce that the great Dana White has been offered the position of White House press secretary."

Trump also said he asked White to bring along a roster of fighters as staff, including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.

Noting that some of them are not American-born, Trump argued, "We need these people to protect us from the radical left."

"White will be an unmatched spokesperson," Trump said. "Dana, please take this position."