Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about making Dana White press secretary

President Donald Trump said Sunday he was joking when he announced on social media that he had offered UFC boss Dana White the White House press secretary job and lined up a roster of fighters to serve as his assistants.

"I will tell you, I was only kidding," Trump said when asked what prompted the pitch and whether he was serious.

Trump pointed to the fighters he had named as White’s would-be assistants, saying the lineup should have given the joke away. "And you see a lot of rough faces there," he said. 

He also joked that some of the fighters came from "parts unknown."

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President Donald Trump and Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrive for UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 14, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Trump said he thought White liked the idea and called him "a very capable guy." As for how the UFC boss might handle the job, Trump said, "You wouldn’t mess around with him so much."

"But Dana is actually coming tomorrow," Trump said. He explained that the visit was for other reasons, saying he believed White already planned to be in Washington and would stop by to see him.

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UFC CEO Dana White talks to President-elect Donald Trump ringside during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Trump said some people took to the idea after he floated it. "And then people said, you know, that’s actually a pretty good idea," he said.

The clarification came a day after Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had offered White the job. His post named UFC stars including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes as prospective assistants.

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"Dana, please take the job!" Trump wrote.

White shared Trump’s post on his Instagram Story, along with a photo of himself behind the White House podium. He captioned the photo, "On to the next chapter."

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President Donald J. Trump and UFC President Dana White watch the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The exchange came weeks after Katie Zacharia’s departure as press secretary. Zacharia had been tapped to succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left in August. Asked Oct. 23 about finding a replacement, Trump told reporters, "We’re in no rush."

Trump and White have known each other for decades, dating back to the UFC’s early years, when Trump hosted fights at his Atlantic City property. White introduced Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention and joined him on the White House South Lawn in June for UFC Freedom 250.

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White previously told Sports Business Journal in November 2024 that he had "no personal political aspirations" when asked about a possible role in Trump’s incoming administration.

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Outkick's Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.