Dana White to meet Trump Monday over White House press secretary offer
The UFC chief plans to discuss the role with the president while navigating a period of rapid staff turnover in the administration.
By Lina Lewis ·
Dana White plans to fly to Washington from London on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump regarding an offer to serve as the White House press secretary. The UFC chairman said Saturday that he intends to discuss the role directly with the president. This potential appointment would place a boxing and mixed martial arts executive in charge of the administration's primary communications.
Trump announced the offer via social media while at his golf club in Florida. He described White as a violent fighter and warrior in the post. The president specifically requested that White bring several UFC fighters to serve as assistants. Trump wrote that the group would help defend the administration against what he called the Lunatic Left. He urged White to accept the position, stating that he would be a press secretary like none other.
White responded to the news during a press conference in London following a boxing event. He confirmed his travel plans but did not definitively say whether he was accepting the job. When asked how he would balance the new role with his existing duties in the fighting world, White said he already has a lot of jobs. He declined to detail previous conversations with Trump but noted that he expects to have more to discuss after their meeting.
The offer comes during a period of significant transition in the White House. The administration is currently without a chief spokesperson after Karoline Leavitt left her post at the end of August. The position has been vacant since then. A brief trial period with Katie Zacharia ended after five days, leaving the role unfilled as the president faces the aftermath of midterm elections where the Republican party lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump also announced Friday that he is replacing longtime adviser Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller as the next chief of staff. Miller is known for architecting the administration's hard-line immigration policies. The shake-up at the top of the administration coincides with the press secretary search. The White House and a UFC spokesperson did not respond to messages Saturday seeking comment on the post.
White and Trump have a close personal relationship. The president has attended several UFC events since returning to the White House in January 2025. In June, Trump brought White and the sport to the South Lawn to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and his own 80th birthday. A wire-mesh Octagon was constructed near the executive mansion under a large metal arch. White also spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
