President Donald Trump publicly offers Dana White the vacant White House press secretary position, suggests six UFC fighters as assistants and prompts questions about whether the proposal is serious.
President Donald Trump said Saturday, November 7, 2026, that he had offered Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary. The unusual announcement came through Trump’s Truth Social account, where he also suggested bringing six UFC fighters into the administration as assistants.
White responded by sharing an image of himself standing behind the White House press briefing room podium on Instagram. The image carried the caption “On to the next chapter,” but White did not immediately confirm that he intended to accept the position.
The UFC executive later addressed the offer during a news conference following a Zuffa Boxing event in London. He said he planned to travel to Washington and meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, November 9, leaving open questions about whether the proposal was serious.
Trump Suggests UFC Fighters for White House Jobs
Trump announced the offer while spending Saturday at his golf club in Florida. His social media post described White as a fighter and warrior before proposing that he become the administration’s chief spokesperson.
The president also suggested that White bring six current or former UFC fighters to serve as assistants. He named Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
Trump said the fighters would help defend his administration against political opponents, whom he described as the “Lunatic Left.” He also acknowledged that some of the fighters were not American citizens, although he did not explain what responsibilities they would have.
The proposal attracted attention because several of the athletes have no experience working in government communications. Makhachev and Nurmagomedov are Russian mixed martial artists from Dagestan, while the other four are American fighters with established careers in combat sports.
It was unclear whether Trump intended the suggested appointments as genuine staffing proposals or political humor. Neither the White House nor UFC initially provided an official explanation of the announcement.
White House communications director Steven Cheung appeared to welcome the idea, sharing Trump’s message with an enthusiastic response on social media. His reaction did not establish that any formal appointment process had begun.
Dana White Responds From London
White was in London for Zuffa Boxing 12 when reporters questioned him about Trump’s proposal. The event was part of his work expanding Zuffa Boxing, a promotion he operates alongside his responsibilities at UFC.
When asked whether he could manage the White House position alongside his existing responsibilities, White laughed and acknowledged that he already had several jobs. He said he would be meeting with Trump on Monday and expected to have more to say afterward.
White declined to discuss previous conversations with the president. His comments left the possibility of an appointment unresolved despite the attention generated by Trump’s announcement.
According to the Associated Press, White also discussed his plans to expand Zuffa Boxing internationally during the news conference. His comments suggested that he remained focused on developing his combat sports businesses even as speculation about a government position circulated.
CNN subsequently reported that White had declined the proposed role, citing a person familiar with the matter. The network also reported that a White House aide characterized Trump’s announcement as a joke.
Those accounts differed from the uncertainty expressed publicly by White. As of Saturday evening, there had been no formal White House announcement naming him press secretary.
White House Press Secretary Position Remains Vacant
The job offer comes during a period of significant personnel changes inside the Trump administration. The White House has lacked a permanent press secretary since Katie Zacharia left the position on October 16 after serving only five days.
Zacharia had been selected to replace Karoline Leavitt, who departed at the end of August. Her brief tenure included a difficult first appearance before reporters and questions about her professional background.
CBS News reported that Zacharia was being removed from the position after only one week. The administration described her departure as a transition to another role, although details about that assignment were not immediately announced.
The press secretary serves as the president’s principal spokesperson and regularly answers questions from journalists about administration policies, government decisions and international developments. The position requires close coordination with senior officials and federal agencies.
White has extensive experience answering questions from sports journalists, especially after UFC events. However, managing a White House briefing would involve subjects far outside his usual responsibilities, including national security, economic policy and congressional negotiations.
His outspoken communication style has also generated controversy during his career. White has frequently defended fighters’ rights to express unpopular opinions while criticizing statements he considers offensive.
Those positions could become more closely examined if he were seriously considered for a senior government communications role. His approach to managing controversial remarks in professional sports would not necessarily translate directly to the responsibilities of speaking for the president.
Trump and White Have a Long Political Friendship
Trump and White have maintained a close relationship for more than two decades. Their association began when Trump-owned casino properties hosted UFC events during a period when mixed martial arts was struggling to gain acceptance.
Trump’s willingness to provide a venue helped the organization expand its audience before UFC developed into one of the world’s most valuable combat sports businesses. White has repeatedly credited Trump with supporting the promotion when other major venues were unwilling to host its events.
The relationship eventually extended into national politics. White supported Trump during his presidential campaigns and spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
White also attended Trump’s inauguration and has frequently appeared alongside him at UFC events. Their public appearances have helped connect the president with an audience of mixed martial arts fans and athletes.
In June 2026, the White House hosted UFC Freedom 250 on its South Lawn as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The event also coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday and featured professional mixed martial arts competition at the executive mansion.
The event demonstrated the unusually close relationship between the president and the UFC organization. White helped organize the spectacle, while Trump appeared alongside him during the celebrations.
Offer Comes After Republican Midterm Defeats
The announcement followed Democrats’ sweeping victories in the November 3 midterm elections, which gave them control of both chambers of Congress. The results increased political pressure on the administration and prompted changes among Trump’s senior advisers.
On Friday, Trump announced that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. Miller has been a central figure in the administration’s immigration policies and is considered one of the president’s closest advisers.
The combination of congressional losses and leadership changes has placed greater attention on how the White House communicates its policies. A permanent press secretary would become an important public representative as the administration prepares to work with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
White’s potential appointment would represent an unconventional choice for a position traditionally filled by political communications professionals. His public profile, friendship with Trump and experience handling difficult media exchanges could appeal to the president, although White has not confirmed an interest in taking the job.
The next development is expected after White’s scheduled meeting with Trump on Monday, November 9. Until either side provides a formal statement, the White House press secretary position remains vacant and White’s possible appointment remains uncertain.
IMAGE: UFC 189 World Tour Aldo vs. McGregor London 2015. Photo: Andrius Petrucenia / Wikimedia, taken 2015-03-30, CC BY-SA 2.0