US President Donald Trump has offered UFC Chief Executive Dany White the post of White House Press Secretary. However, according to CNN, the head of the largest mixed martial arts organisation has turned down the offer. White himself has not publicly confirmed his decision and has stated that he will meet with the US President in Washington on 9 November.
- Donald Trump has offered UFC boss Dany White the role of White House press secretary.
- The President also proposed bringing in six well-known UFC fighters.
- According to CNN, White turned down the offer, but has not publicly confirmed this.
- A meeting between the head of the UFC and the US President is scheduled for 9 November.
Trump has proposed bringing UFC fighters on board at the White House
About the proposal Donald Trump wrote on 7 November on his social media platform, Truth Social. The President described Vayta a fighter and a warrior, and stated that he could make an exceptional press secretary for his administration.
Trump also suggested that the head of the UFC bring along some well-known fighters as his aides. Among them, he named Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
According to the president, athletes could help the administration stand up to its political opponents. The unusual wording raised questions as to how serious the proposal was.
A White House staff member later told CNN that Trump had been joking. Meanwhile, the administration’s communications director Stephen Cheng publicly backed the presidential initiative.
CNN reports that Dana White has stepped down from his post
According to CNN, citing a source familiar with the situation, White has turned down an offer to head the White House press office.
The UFC president himself, during a press conference in London where he was attending a boxing event, did not give a direct answer to a question about a possible appointment. He merely noted that he already has many professional responsibilities.
White also said that he was travelling to Washington, where he plans to meet Trump on Monday, 9 November. He did not disclose any details of the forthcoming meeting.
Following the President’s post, the head of the UFC published a photo on Instagram showing him standing behind the podium in the White House briefing room, with a caption referring to the start of a new phase. However, there has been no official confirmation of his appointment.
Why did Trump approach the head of the UFC in particular?
Donald Trump and Dana White have enjoyed a long-standing friendship and business relationship. Back in the early 2000s, Trump’s casinos hosted UFC tournaments, at a time when the organisation was just beginning to gain popularity in the US.
Wight subsequently became one of Trump’s public supporters. He spoke at Republican Party conventions and has on several occasions accompanied the President to sporting events.
In June 2026, a major tournament took place on the White House grounds UFC Freedom 250, organised with the participation of White.
Trump’s proposal came against the backdrop of personnel changes within the presidential administration. The post of White House press secretary remains vacant following the dismissal of Katie Zacharia, who held the post for just five days in October. Earlier, in August, Caroline Levitt stepped down from the post.
The White House has not yet announced who will be the next official spokesperson for the US President’s administration.
