Donald Trump Asks UFC Boss Dana White to Take Over White House Press Briefings
US President Donald Trump publicly asked Ultimate Fighting Championship Chief Executive Officer Dana White to serve as White House Press Secretary. Trump posted the unusual recruitment pitch on Truth Social on November 7, 2026, urging the combat sports promoter to accept the role and bring several mixed martial arts fighters into the administration to handle communications. White traveled to London, England, that same day to attend a boxing match at the Copper Box Arena between Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke.
The unexpected job offer arrives as the White House undergoes a sudden leadership transition. The press secretary position has remained vacant since mid-October, following the departure of Katie Zacharia just days into her tenure. According to Investing.com, Zacharia took office on October 12, delivered a single 14-minute press briefing on October 13, and was dismissed on October 16. The communications vacancy also coincides with a wider staff shakeup following the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections, which cost the party its majority in Congress.
Public Appeal on Truth Social and Proposed Fighter Staffing
In his social media post, Trump praised White as a tough fighter and requested that he enlist prominent athletes to assist him. The president specifically named champions and former champions including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. Trump wrote that even though several of these fighters are foreign nationals, their presence in the executive branch is necessary to defend the administration from political opponents, promising that White would prove a unique spokesperson.
Following the public announcement, White shared an image on Instagram showing himself standing behind the podium in the White House press briefing room with the caption indicating a next chapter, though it was unclear whether the post was serious. One Trump aide characterized the offer as a joke. Even so, administration officials reacted quickly. Steven Cheung, the White House Communications Director, amplified the proposal on social media by writing, “Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!”
Travel to London and Immediate Rejection Reports
While attending the boxing event at the Copper Box Arena in London on November 7, White spoke briefly with reporters after the fights. He stated that he would fly to Washington to meet with Trump, noting that they would discuss matters then, without confirming whether he had any interest in the demanding political post. CNN subsequently reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions, that White had already turned down the offer.
Alongside his leadership duties at the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Power Slap promotion, White recently launched a professional boxing promotion company named Zuffa Boxing. These ongoing commercial responsibilities leave little time for the daily demands of White House press operations.
Stephen Miller Replaced Susie Wiles After Republicans Lost Congress in Midterms
The unconventional recruitment effort is part of a broader reorganization of the West Wing following the midterm elections held on November 3, 2026. CNBC Indonesia reported that Republicans lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, leaving the administration facing a hostile legislative branch. To face upcoming investigations following the midterm elections, Trump appointed immigration adviser Stephen Miller as White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles, who transitioned to political operations.
The White House has not issued an official statement regarding the status of the press secretary vacancy or the outreach to White. With the communications office vacant and Democratic lawmakers preparing to launch targeted oversight inquiries into executive branch actions, the administration continues its search for a permanent spokesperson to manage daily press relations.
Donald Trump Offered Press Secretary Role to Dana White on Truth Social
When did Donald Trump offer the press secretary position to Dana White?
The offer was published publicly on Trump’s Truth Social platform on November 7, 2026.
How did Dana White respond to the public job offer?
While White told reporters in London that he planned to travel to Washington to meet with the president, CNN reported through sources familiar with the matter that White ultimately rejected the proposal due to his business commitments.
Who previously held the White House Press Secretary role before the vacancy?
Katie Zacharia held the position briefly in October 2026 before leaving the administration after a tenure lasting only a few days.
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