US President Donald Trump has offered Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive Dana White the role of White House press secretary, in an unusual move that has raised questions about whether the mixed martial arts promoter will accept the position.
The White House has been without an official press secretary since Katie Zacharia left the position after just five days last month.
Trump announced the offer in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing White as “a violent Fighter and Warrior” and asking him to take up the role.
The president also mentioned several prominent fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, suggesting they could join White as “assistants”.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump added.
“Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
White, a long-time Trump supporter and close associate, continues to lead the UFC and is also working to expand his emerging boxing company, Zuffa.
CNN reported that White had declined the offer. However, speaking at a boxing event in London, the UFC boss said he would meet Trump at the White House on Monday.
The White House press secretary serves as the president’s principal spokesperson, regularly briefing journalists on administration policies and communicating the president’s position on national and international issues.
Trump’s latest offer follows the brief tenure of Zacharia, whose debut as press secretary attracted widespread criticism before she left the position less than a week after taking office.
Her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, who left to spend more time with her family, was widely regarded as a competent and calm communicator.
However, US political analyst Calvin Dark suggested Trump’s offer could be a publicity stunt rather than a serious appointment.
“I wouldn’t put it past Donald Trump on a Saturday afternoon to want to steal a headline or two by suggesting something facetious, and Dana White could politely refuse, and it wouldn’t be anything bad,” Dark said.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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