President Donald Trump clarified Sunday afternoon that he was “only kidding” about offering UFC CEO Dana White the open role of White House press secretary. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump insisted his proposal from Saturday was never meant to be taken seriously, expressing surprise at the reaction it got.
“I Was Kidding, Of Course”
Trump doubled down on his claim, saying, “You would’ve thought that people would’ve said, ‘He’s having a good time.’ I will tell you, I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea.” He went on, “And there’s only one Dana, he’s great. I don’t know, you wouldn’t mess around with him so much. So I was kidding, of course.” Trump also pointed to his original Truth Social post where he listed “great fighters” as White’s assistants, implying that detail should have shown it was all just “a little fun.”
Despite his playful tone, Trump acknowledged White’s capabilities, stating, “So I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy.” He confirmed White’s enthusiasm, claiming, “Dana loves the idea.” The President also revealed that White is actually coming to Washington, D.C., on Monday for a previously scheduled meeting concerning “other reasons,” but will “come over and see me.”
Dana White’s Unyielding Stance
This “kidding” revelation comes after Trump caused a massive stir Saturday. He posted on Truth Social that he was “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.” The post ended with a direct plea to White: “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
White, who has maintained a close personal relationship with Trump for decades,dating back to 2001 when Trump’s Atlantic City hotel hosted UFC events,responded to the Saturday announcement in a way that didn’t exactly scream “kidding.” The UFC CEO posted an image of himself at the White House press briefing podium with the caption, “On to the next chapter.” He then told reporters in London that he was “flying to Washington” directly after Zuffa Boxing 12’s post-fight press conference to meet with Trump. White was pretty straightforward, saying, “I’ve got a lot of jobs already. We have a meeting on Monday, so I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about after that.” This guy doesn’t sound like someone who thinks it’s all a big joke, does he?
The White House press secretary position has been open for just over two weeks. Katie Zacharia, who previously held the role, resigned after only five days on the job. Zacharia, a conservative commentator and advisor for the company behind Truth Social, faced immediate scrutiny after an initial press briefing that lasted only five minutes and questions arose regarding her claim of being a lawyer. She had taken over from Karoline Leavit.
So, with White still headed to Washington, D.C., for that Monday meeting, the question remains: Was Trump *really* just kidding, or is there more to this story? We’re all waiting to see what develops after that meeting, and if Dana White’s “next chapter” actually involves a podium in the White House.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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