US President Donald Trump has offered Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White the position of White House press secretary, in an unusual proposal that has attracted attention amid reports that the sports promoter has declined the offer.
Trump announced the offer in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and urging him to take up the position.
The president also suggested that prominent mixed martial arts fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, could serve as White’s assistants.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump wrote.
He added, “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
White, a longtime Trump ally and supporter, currently heads the UFC and is also involved in expanding his boxing venture, Zuffa.
However, CNN reported that White had turned down the offer.
Speaking at a boxing event in London, White said he was scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Monday, although he did not publicly confirm whether he would accept the proposed position.
The White House press secretary is responsible for communicating the president’s policies and positions to the public, regularly addressing journalists during briefings and responding to questions on domestic and international affairs.
Trump’s offer comes after the White House was left without a permanent press secretary following Katie Zacharia’s departure from the position after just five days in office last month.
Her brief tenure reportedly attracted widespread criticism, while her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, had been regarded by many as a calm and effective communicator before leaving the role to spend more time with her family.
Meanwhile, US political analyst Calvin Dark suggested that Trump’s announcement might have been intended to generate publicity rather than signal a serious appointment.
“I wouldn’t put it past Donald Trump on a Saturday afternoon to want to steal a headline or two by suggesting something facetious, and Dana White could politely refuse, and it wouldn’t be anything bad,” Dark said.
White’s close relationship with Trump, who has frequently attended UFC events, has further fuelled interest in the unusual proposal.
