Trump Says He Was Joking on Dana White Press Secretary Offer

Palm Beach, Florida — President Donald Trump told reporters on the tarmac here Sunday evening that his offer to make Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White the White House press secretary was "only kidding," ending more than 24 hours of speculation over whether the announcement was serious, according to NBC News.

"I will tell you, I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea, and there's only one Dana. He's great," Trump said, NBC News reported.

What did Trump say about Dana White and the press secretary job?

Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday that he had formally offered White the role. "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," Trump wrote, according to NBC News. "Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!" The post left observers unsure whether the offer was genuine until Trump's remarks Sunday night, NBC News reported.

Why is the White House press secretary position vacant?

The job has been open since Katie Zacharia departed after just five days in the role last month, according to NBC News. Trump's Saturday post came without warning and arrived amid that unfilled vacancy, the outlet reported. No replacement has been named since Zacharia's exit.

What did Dana White say about the offer?

White did not immediately confirm or deny taking the job. Speaking at a boxing event in London on Saturday evening, he said he was flying to Washington that night and had a meeting scheduled with Trump for Monday, according to NBC News. Shortly after Trump's post went up, White shared what NBC News described as an apparent AI-generated image of himself standing behind the lectern in the White House briefing room, captioned, "On to the next chapter." He also posted a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social message to his Instagram Story, the outlet reported.

Trump told reporters Sunday that Monday's meeting with White was still scheduled but was unrelated to the press secretary position. "So he's actually coming tomorrow," Trump said, according to NBC News. "Of course, I was kidding. … But Dana is actually coming tomorrow, actually, for other reasons. I think he was going to be in Washington, so he's going to come over and see me."

Who did Trump suggest White bring as assistants?

In the same Truth Social post, Trump floated the idea that White could bring UFC fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje and Amanda Nunes along as assistants to help counter what he called the "Lunatic Left," NBC News reported. The post did not describe what duties the fighters would perform inside the briefing room.

What are the numbers behind the vacancy and the offer?

• Zacharia's tenure as press secretary lasted five days before she left last month, according to NBC News.
• Trump's Truth Social offer to White was posted Saturday, Nov. 7, and he walked it back roughly 24 hours later, on Sunday, Nov. 8, the outlet reported.
• The press secretary post has remained unfilled for more than a month since Zacharia's departure, per NBC News.

What happens next for Dana White and Trump?

Trump confirmed that his meeting with White remains on the calendar for Monday but said it has nothing to do with the press office, according to NBC News. Trump and White have been friends for years, and Trump has attended numerous UFC fights during his time in the White House, the outlet noted. No announcement on a permanent press secretary has followed the episode, and the administration has not said when one might come.

For now, the exchange stands as a public, unresolved aside between the two men rather than a personnel decision, based on Trump's own account to reporters. White's Monday visit to Washington will proceed as planned, Trump said, even as the press secretary vacancy itself remains open.