President Donald Trump posted that UFC president Dana White had been offered the White House press secretary job, then back‑tracked, leaving observers unsure whether the offer was genuine or a prank.
Key points
- Trump’s post about appointing UFC CEO Dana White was later dismissed by the president as a joke.
- A separate Pentagon spokesperson named Dana W. White may have been the intended candidate, adding to the confusion.
- The incident underscores Trump’s habit of using social media for provocative, sometimes ambiguous staffing announcements.
On November 7, 2026, the former president used his Truth Social account to announce that “the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States,” adding that White should bring a roster of UFC fighters as assistants. The post quoted a list that included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov and others, framing the offer as a defense against the “Lunatic Left.”
The announcement came just weeks after Katie Zacharia was dismissed as White House press secretary after a five‑day tenure. Trump’s tweet referenced White’s long‑standing friendship with the president and noted that Trump had previously hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn during the nation’s 250th‑anniversary celebrations.
Trump’s social‑media announcement
UFC CEO Dana White initially told reporters he was “flying to Washington, D.C. right now” and joked about having “a lot of jobs already.” However, CNN later reported, citing a White House source, that White declined the offer and that a Trump aide described the post as a joke. Trump himself later said, “I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea,” reinforcing that the claim was not a formal nomination.
The episode fits a pattern of Trump naming entertainment figures for senior roles, such as WWE co‑founder Linda McMahon, now secretary of education, and earlier speculation that rapper Nicki Minaj might serve as press secretary. The president also shared an AI‑generated Family Guy‑style video depicting White as press secretary, which featured a transphobic remark about former first lady Michelle Obama made by a UFC fighter during a previous White House event.
White’s reaction and media follow‑up
Some observers suggested the confusion may have stemmed from a mix‑up with Dana W. White, a Black woman who served as the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson under Secretary James Mattis. A post on X clarified that the former aide had been recommended for the press secretary role, and Dana W. White responded on social media that congratulatory messages had reached the wrong Dana White.
Regardless of the intent—whether a tongue‑in‑cheek stunt, a genuine nomination, or a case of mistaken identity—the offer did not result in an appointment. As of now, no further steps have been taken to install either Dana White or Dana W. White as the White House press secretary.
Reader questions
Did Dana White actually accept the White House press secretary job?
No. According to a CNN report cited in the Yahoo article, White turned down the offer and the president later said the announcement was a joke.
What did President Trump say after the backlash?
Trump reiterated that he was “only kidding” about the nomination, adding that “Dana loves the idea, and there’s only one Dana; he’s great.”
Who is Dana W. White and how does she relate to the story?
Dana W. White is a former Pentagon spokesperson. Some social‑media users suggested that an aide may have recommended her for the press secretary role, and Trump may have confused her name with UFC CEO Dana White.
Source: yahoo.com
