US President Donald Trump has made an unusual offer to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive Dana White, proposing him for the role of White House press secretary. The offer was made through a post on Trump's Truth Social platform, where he described White as 'a violent Fighter and Warrior' and asked him to take up the position.
The White House has been without an official press secretary since Katie Zacharia left the role after just five days last month. Trump's latest offer follows a brief tenure that drew widespread criticism before Zacharia departed.
In his post, Trump also mentioned several prominent fighters — including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje — suggesting they could join White as 'assistants.' He added, 'We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,' and concluded, '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 while also expanding his emerging boxing company, Zuffa. CNN reported that White had declined the offer. However, speaking at a boxing event in London, White 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. The role is a critical one, and its absence during Zacharia's brief tenure raised concerns about the administration's ability to communicate with the public.
Zacharia's 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.
The offer highlights Trump's unconventional approach to staffing his administration and raises questions about whether any potential appointee would accept such a high-profile and politically sensitive role.
Faridah Abdulkadiri