Donald Trump jokes about appointing Dana White as White House press secretary

On November 7, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he had offered the position of White House press secretary to Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In his post, Trump described White as a 'great fighter' and suggested that White should bring a team of six notable MMA athletes, including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Amanda Nunes, to serve as assistants in defending the administration against the 'insane Left.

The post generated significant public speculation, especially given that the press secretary role has been vacant since October 16, 2026, following the departure of Katie Zacharia after less than a week on the job. However, by November 9, President Trump clarified to reporters that the proposal was intended as a joke, stating that he was simply engaging in lighthearted banter. Despite this admission, the playfulness continued when Trump invited White to the White House press briefing room on November 9. During the event, White stepped to the podium and jokingly acted as the spokesperson, taking questions from reporters in a satirical display of his potential role.

While the engagement was widely characterized as a stunt and a satirical commentary on media relations, it highlights Trump's ongoing strategy of using provocative social media content to maintain engagement with his political base. No formal administrative changes followed the exchange.