Dana White, the UFC CEO and President, was formally offered the White House press secretary role by President Donald Trump via social media this past Saturday. But here’s the kicker, folks: when Trump was pressed about it on Sunday night, he claimed he was “only kidding.” Yeah, you read that right. He publicly offered a high-profile government position, then said it was all just a big joke.
The “Offer” That Rocked Social Media
President Trump didn’t pull any punches with his initial social media post on Saturday, November 8, 2026. He declared, “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States.” Talk about a head-turner, right? He even threw in some names for potential assistant roles, like Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison, noting that “even though some are not from our Country.” Imagine that crew running the press briefings! This wasn’t some quiet conversation, this was a full-blown, public announcement that had everyone talking.
White’s Reaction and What’s Next
So how did White, 57, respond to this wild proposition? He played right into it initially, dropping an AI-generated meme on his Instagram stories with the caption, “On to the next chapter.” It was classic White, leaning into the speculation before the full story broke. Then, at a Zuffa Boxing 12 press conference over in London, White confirmed he was indeed set to travel to Washington, D.C. for a Monday meeting with the President. When asked about the press secretary gig, White just laughed it off, saying, “I got a lot of jobs already… I’m sure we’ll have something to talk about after [the meeting].” It’s a fair point, considering he’s been with UFC since 2001, heading Zuffa Boxing and Power Slap under the TKO Group Holdings banner. The relationship between Trump and White runs deep too. Trump hosted White’s debut UFC event at his Taj Mahal casino way back in 2001, and he’s been a regular guest at UFC events as president, even hosting the UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn in June. White has also spoken at the Republican National Convention for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Trump’s backtracking, where he told C-SPAN, “I will tell you, I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea. And there’s only one Dana. He’s great, I don’t know, you wouldn’t mess around with him so much,” definitely adds a whole new layer to this saga. He did confirm White was coming to Washington, D.C. for “other reasons” and would still come to see him. So, what exactly will they be talking about when White steps into the Oval Office on Monday? Is it just a friendly visit, or is there more to this “joke” than meets the eye? Given the history and the public nature of the “offer,” you gotta wonder what kind of “other reasons” brought White to the capital.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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