US President Donald Trump says he has offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, the president and chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He made the announcement on Saturday, November 7, in a post on his Truth Social platform.
The offer is real, but whether White will take it is not yet clear. White posted an online message that seemed to welcome the idea. However, a source told CNN that he will not accept the role. Neither White nor the UFC has made a formal public statement.
What Trump Said
According to CBS News and PBS NewsHour, Trump wrote that White had been offered the post of press secretary and urged him to accept it. In the same post he suggested White bring along several current and former UFC fighters and personalities as his “assistants.”
PBS reported that Trump posted the message from his golf club in Florida. The White House did not confirm the offer when contacted and did not answer questions about the post. Some commentators wondered if the message was partly a joke, given the light-hearted tone and the list of fighters named as possible aides.
White’s Response: “On to the Next Chapter”
White was in London on Saturday for a boxing event. He shared a screenshot of Trump’s post on his Instagram story with a picture of himself standing at the podium in the White House briefing room. His caption read “On to the next chapter.”
Many people took that post as a sign he was open to the job. But ESPN, citing CNN, later reported that a source said White is not taking the position. A UFC spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. White himself has not spoken publicly to confirm or deny the report.
Why the Job Is Vacant
The press secretary role has been in flux for months. Karoline Leavitt, who held the job at the start of Trump’s second term, stepped aside at the end of August. She said she wanted more time with her young family.
Trump then named conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as her successor. She lasted only five days and was out of the role by mid-October. The White House has had no permanent chief spokesperson since then.
The offer to White came only days after the midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. That result is expected to bring tougher scrutiny of the administration. A steady communications team will matter more in the months ahead.
A Long Friendship
White is one of Trump’s best-known allies outside politics. Their relationship goes back more than two decades, to when Trump’s casinos hosted early UFC events. White spoke for Trump at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024. He also attended Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
Trump has since been a regular guest at UFC events with White. Earlier this year, the UFC staged a fight card on the South Lawn of the White House. The event marked America’s 250th anniversary and was held around the time of Trump’s 80th birthday.
What Happens Next
For now, the situation remains uncertain. Trump has publicly offered the job, and White has teased a “next chapter.” Yet a report says he has turned it down. Taking the role would mean stepping back from running the world’s biggest mixed martial arts company, which White has led for about 25 years.
Flashinfong will update this story when White, the UFC or the White House confirms his decision.
Sources: CBS News, PBS NewsHour, ESPN (citing CNN).
