U.S. President Donald Trump suggested UFC (Mixed Martial Arts) President Dana White to serve as White House spokesperson through a social media post.
“Dana will be an unprecedented spokesperson,” President Trump wrote on TruthSocial, a social media platform he runs. “Dana, please take on this position.”
It is unclear whether the president's public personnel proposals were actually implemented. However, Chairman White said on Saturday, "I plan to meet with him and there is a meeting on Monday."
The White House press secretary position has remained vacant since Katie Zacharias resigned in mid-October, less than five days after being appointed.
President Trump posted this on the 7th (local time), the first weekend after the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in the U.S. midterm elections and lost its majority position in Congress.
President Trump described White as a "violent fighter and warrior" and requested that several famous UFC fighters be brought to the White House as well. He added that some of them are not American citizens.
“We need people to protect us from the crazy left,” Trump wrote alongside a photo of the six players.
After Trump's post, White posted a photo on Instagram of herself standing behind the podium in the White House briefing room.
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“Toward a new chapter,” White wrote in the post, but it wasn’t clear whether he was joking.
White House communications director Stephen Chung shared Trump's post, writing to X: "Good! Do it, Dana White!"
image copyrightEPA
White watched the game held at the Copper Box Arena in London on the night of the 7th. In this match, former world champion Chris Willemsmith of Great Britain faced off against Jamaican-born British player Chivon Clark.
UFC CEO White, who was asked about President Trump's offer during the post-fight press conference, said he plans to travel to Washington to meet with President Trump on Monday.
“I already have a lot of work to do,” he told reporters.
He then avoided a specific answer to the question of whether he would be willing to take on the position of White House spokesperson, one of the most arduous positions in politics, but added, "There will definitely be something to talk about after the meeting."
CNN reported that White declined the offer, citing sources familiar with the matter.
As White mentioned in his press conference, he already has several positions and tasks that require significant time and effort. In addition to leading the UFC, a mixed martial arts sport, and Power Slap, a regulated slap fighting league, he also recently launched a professional boxing promotion company, Zuffa Boxing.
Last year, he was announced as one of three new board members of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
image copyrightAFP via Getty Images
White is known for his outspoken and aggressive personality, and has clashed with reporters covering the subject at press conferences on several occasions.
In 2020, he released a video slamming reporters who criticized the decision to hold UFC events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2009, he released a video containing homophobic expressions and profanity, refuting a reporter's report about changes to the regulations for issuing press passes for backstage UFC stadiums.
White has been a close associate and friend of President Trump for a long time.
When White and his business partners acquired the struggling UFC for $2 million in 2001, the future of mixed martial arts was uncertain.
Just five years ago, in 1996, Republican Senator John McCain criticized mixed martial arts as "human cockfighting," and the sport was banned in 36 U.S. states.
“No stadium wanted the UFC," White said. "People didn't trust the UFC, they didn't like it, and they were concerned about what kind of crowd would come to this type of event."
At a time when mainstream arenas were ignoring the UFC, White credited President Trump with saving the organization by holding two UFC fights at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2001.
White also served as a speaker for President Trump's presidential campaign at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
He also appeared on stage for President Trump's victory speech in the 2024 US presidential election.
This summer, the UFC held a cage fighting match on the White House lawn.
