President Donald Trump has caught Washington off guard with an unexpected announcement about his next potential White House press secretary, turning to a familiar face from outside the political world.
On Saturday, November 7, Trump announced that he had offered the position to Dana White, the longtime president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The surprising announcement comes as the Trump administration faces significant changes within its senior leadership and continues searching for a permanent replacement to represent the president before the national media.
However, one major question remains unanswered: Is Trump seriously considering White for the position, or was the announcement intended as humor?
Trump Makes Surprising Announcement About White House Position
Trump revealed the unusual offer in a post on Truth Social, praising White’s toughness and suggesting that his experience leading the UFC could make him an effective voice for the administration.
The president described White as a fighter and warrior, highlighting the qualities that have helped the sports executive build one of the most successful organizations in professional mixed martial arts.
Trump also suggested that White bring several well-known UFC fighters to Washington as assistants.
The names included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison.
The president indicated that the fighters could help White confront political opposition, although the suggestion appeared to be made in a joking manner.
Trump concluded his announcement with a direct message to his longtime friend.
“Dana, please take the job!” the president wrote.
The unusual statement quickly generated attention because White has never held a comparable position in the federal government.
As of Saturday, neither the White House nor the UFC had publicly confirmed whether the offer would result in an official appointment.
Dana White Responds To Trump’s Unexpected Offer
White appeared to acknowledge the president’s announcement through his social media activity.
The UFC executive shared an image depicting himself standing behind the White House briefing room podium, accompanied by the message, “On to the next chapter.”
He also reposted Trump’s announcement.
However, White did not explicitly confirm that he had accepted the position or intended to leave his responsibilities at the UFC.
The response added to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s intentions.
White has built a successful career overseeing major sporting events, managing relationships with professional fighters, and handling difficult questions from reporters.
His outspoken personality and willingness to confront criticism have also made him a recognizable figure among sports fans.
Whether those qualities could translate into success as White House press secretary remains an open question.
White House Faces Another Major Leadership Decision
Trump’s announcement comes during a period of considerable turnover within his administration.
The White House press secretary position has remained without a permanent occupant since Karoline Leavitt departed in August.
Leavitt became one of the administration’s most prominent public representatives during Trump’s second term, regularly fielding questions about immigration enforcement, economic priorities, foreign policy, and other major issues.
Following her departure, Katie Zacharia briefly assumed the role.
However, Zacharia left after just five days, leaving the administration searching for another replacement.
The president has also announced changes elsewhere in his senior leadership team, including the selection of Stephen Miller to replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff.
Against that backdrop, selecting a permanent press secretary has become another important personnel decision for Trump.
The position requires someone who can explain administration policies, answer challenging questions, and communicate the president’s priorities to the American public.
White would represent a significant departure from the traditional political communications professionals who typically fill the role.
Trump And Dana White Share A Long Political Friendship
Although the announcement surprised many political observers, Trump’s relationship with White is hardly new.
The two men have maintained a friendship for decades, dating back to the UFC’s early struggles to establish itself as a major sporting organization.
White has frequently credited Trump with supporting mixed martial arts when the sport faced substantial criticism and difficulties securing major venues.
Over the years, their relationship has extended beyond business.
White has publicly supported Trump during presidential campaigns and appeared at Republican National Conventions to speak favorably about his leadership.
He has also attended major UFC events alongside the president.
Their relationship gained additional attention in June 2026, when the UFC staged a major mixed martial arts event on the White House grounds as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
The event demonstrated the close connection between Trump’s administration and the UFC executive.
White has also made it clear that political criticism has not persuaded him to distance himself from the president.
During a May interview with Katie Miller, White defended his friendship with Trump and indicated that he was not particularly concerned about potential business consequences.
His willingness to publicly stand by the president has made him one of Trump’s most recognizable allies outside Washington.
Could Dana White Become Trump’s Next Press Secretary?
White’s possible appointment raises important questions about the direction of the White House communications operation.
The UFC executive has decades of experience managing major business decisions, negotiating high-profile agreements, and responding directly to journalists.
He is also known for speaking plainly and defending his positions without relying heavily on carefully prepared political statements.
Those characteristics could appeal to a president who has repeatedly expressed frustration with traditional Washington communications practices.
Still, serving as White House press secretary would involve responsibilities that extend far beyond managing a professional sports organization.
The position requires detailed knowledge of federal policy, ongoing national security developments, international relations, and the administration’s legislative priorities.
The press secretary must also communicate accurately on behalf of the federal government while responding to questions from a national and international press corps.
Although White has significant experience dealing with public controversy, moving into government would represent a major professional transition.
There is also the question of whether he would be willing to leave his prominent position with the UFC.
At this point, no formal transition has been announced.
What Trump’s Announcement Means For The White House
Trump’s public offer highlights his continued willingness to consider unconventional candidates for prominent positions.
Rather than limiting his choices to experienced political operatives, the president has frequently shown an interest in individuals from business, entertainment, and other industries.
White’s longstanding relationship with Trump and his public reputation for handling confrontational situations could explain why the president singled him out.
However, the humorous elements of Trump’s announcement make it difficult to determine whether the proposal should be interpreted as a serious personnel decision.
The inclusion of professional fighters as potential White House assistants has only added to that uncertainty.
For now, the administration has not provided a definitive explanation or announced a formal appointment.
With the press secretary position still vacant, the White House continues to face questions about who will become the administration’s next official spokesperson.
Whether Dana White ultimately accepts the position or remains focused on leading the UFC, Trump’s unexpected announcement has brought renewed attention to a key White House vacancy.
The next development will be whether the president formally moves forward with the offer or selects someone else to represent his administration.