Former U.S. President Donald Trump extended an offer for the vacant White House press secretary role to UFC President Dana White via a social media message on Saturday.
On his Truth Social account, Trump announced, “I am pleased to declare that the remarkable Dana White, a fierce Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the role of U.S. Press Secretary.” He further requested White to bring aides to assist him, mentioning several UFC stars including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison—although he mistakenly spelled Harrison’s name incorrectly. Harrison, widely regarded as a top female fighter worldwide, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning UFC bantamweight champion, scheduled to defend her title at UFC 334 next week.
Though Dana White, 57, has yet to officially reply to Trump’s proposal, he shared a screenshot of Trump’s announcement on his Instagram story, accompanied by a photo of himself standing at the White House press briefing podium captioned, “On to the next chapter.”
Trump and White have known each other for over 25 years, dating back to 2001 when Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City hosted a UFC event during a time when only a handful of states sanctioned UFC fights. Over the decades, their friendship grew, with Trump attending multiple UFC events, including four during his presidency. White has also spoken at Trump’s Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024, even introducing Trump at the latest.
Their partnership was most visibly showcased when UFC Freedom 250 took place on the White House South Lawn in June, with Justin Gaethje earning a significant upset victory—one of the athletes named in Trump’s post. This event boosted White’s profile, leading to features in NPR, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and even Time magazine. In these interviews, White supported Trump and hinted at an advisory role in the 2024 campaign.
The press secretary position became available a little over two weeks ago after Katie Zacharia resigned following just five days in the job amid skepticism about her qualifications. Zacharia took over from Karoline Leavitt, who had stepped down to care for her newborn. During Leavitt’s maternity leave, other Trump administration figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conducted press briefings.
Fan Take: This unexpected play to bring Dana White into a political spotlight highlights the ever-deepening connection between UFC and mainstream American culture. For fight fans, it underscores how the sport—and its personalities—are increasingly influential beyond the octagon, potentially shaping public discourse and elevating MMA’s global profile.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
