The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that the invitation to UFC leader Dana White to be the White House spokesman was a joke.
© Lusa
09/11/2026
by
Lusa
O President of the United States, Donald Trump, said he was joking when he invited the leader of the world's largest mixed martial arts organization, Dana White, to be the new White House spokesman.
Following the significant defeats of the Republican Party in the mid-term elections on November 3, Trump promoted changes in the administration on Friday, replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles, considered by the specialized press as an interlocutor between the private sector and President Trump, with controversial anti-immigration adviser Stephen Miller.
On Saturday, the head of state published a message on the platform he holds, Truth Social, stating that he had offered White the position of press secretary.
Trump also said that he had asked White to take several fighters to the White House, including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris.
“ I am pleased to announce that it was offered to the great Dana White, a tireless fighter and warrior, the position of press secretary of the United States”, wrote Trump.
The position of White House spokesperson has been vacant since October 16, when Katie Zacharia resigned, only five days after taking office, becoming the person with the least time in office.
On Sunday, Trump declared that everything was “a joke”.
“ I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he's a very capable guy,” Trump told journalists in Florida before he left for Washington. White is to visit Trump at the White House today.
The executive director of the world's largest mixed martial arts organization rejected the invitation of the American President, reported the CNN television station on Saturday.
Hours after Trump released the invitation, the US station reported that “a source familiar with the subject states that the Executive Director of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) refused the unconventional idea.”.
On the other hand, the TMZ portal advanced, citing “sources with direct knowledge of the subject,” that 57-year-old Dana White was in London to attend a boxing match.
In June, Donald Trump celebrated his 80th anniversary by hosting a mixed martial arts tournament organized by UFC.
Dana White also appeared on stage alongside Trump during the victory speech after re-election in 2024.
The mid-term elections, interpreted as a referendum on Trump's governance, ended with a victory of the Democratic opposition, which removed the Republicans from the control of the two chambers of the US parliament.