Dana White Books Flight to DC After Trump Offers Him Press Secretary Job
White says he has a Monday meeting with Trump after the president publicly offered him the press secretary role.
Donald Trump set the combat sports world on fire Saturday when he posted on Truth Social offering UFC CEO Dana White the job of White House press secretary.
"The great Dana White, a violent fighter and warrior, has been offered the job of press secretary of the United States," Trump wrote. He asked White to bring assistants, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison (whom Trump misspelled as "Kayla Harris"). "We need these people to defend us against the lunatic left," Trump added. "Dana, please take the job!"
The White House has been searching for a new press secretary since mid-October, when Katie Zacharia stepped down after replacing Karoline Leavitt, per Sherdog.
Hours later, CNN reported that White had turned the offer down. But White's own words tell a different story. Speaking at the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, the UFC boss said he is headed to the nation's capital.
"I'm flying to Washington, DC right now," White said. "We have a meeting on Monday, so I'm sure we'll have more to talk about after that."
Whether Trump's offer was serious or a signature piece of showmanship remains unclear. The two have been close since Trump hosted UFC events at the Trump Taj Mahal in 2001, and White has publicly backed Trump through multiple presidential campaigns. Trump recently allowed the UFC to hold an event on the White House South Lawn, headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.
I have watched Dana run the UFC for 25 years now. The man is built for a podium. He handles hostile press conferences like a fighter handles rounds. He would eat that White House press corps alive.
But here is the thing: Dana is not leaving the UFC. He has the biggest cash cow in combat sports history sitting in his office. He just put a UFC event on the White House lawn. The Zuffa Boxing push is rolling. Monday's meeting is probably a steak dinner and some laughs, not a resignation letter.
Trump knows what he is doing. He tags Dana, tags Khabib, tags Gaethje, and now every MMA fan in the country is talking about the president. It is a masterclass in getting attention. And Dana plays along because that is what friends do. But press secretary? Come on. Dana White yells at reporters. He does not read briefing books.
