Donald Trump asks UFC chief Dana White to become White House press secretary

Donald Trump has publicly invited Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive Dana White to serve as the White House press secretary. Following the offer, White confirmed during a press conference after a boxing event in London on Saturday that he intends to meet with the US president at the White House on Monday to discuss the position.

“Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier on Saturday. “Dana, please take the job!” The president further requested that White bring along assistants, even while noting that some are not from our Country. Trump listed six current and former UFC title holders for these roles: Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov from Russia’s Dagestan region; Americans Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Kayla Harrison; and Brazilian-born US citizen Amanda Nunes. “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump stated.

The role of White House press secretary has been vacant since the departure of Katie Zacharia last month, whose tenure lasted five days. Zacharia had succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who resigned from the position at the end of August. The White House press office already employs a former UFC spokesperson, Director of Communications Steven Cheung, who was part of White’s organisation from 2013 to 2016. Cheung expressed support for the appointment on X, stating, “Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite! It’ll just be like old times!”

White and Trump, who are longtime allies and friends, first collaborated in the early 2000s. White has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s campaigns, speaking at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and appearing on stage for the 2024 victory speech. When White and his business partners purchased the then-struggling UFC for $2m in 2001, the organisation faced significant hurdles. White credits Trump with saving the company by hosting two events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that same year. This summer, the White House hosted a night of UFC fights to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence.

Known for his combative style, White has occasionally clashed with journalists. In 2009, he released an expletive-laden video using an anti-gay slur while responding to a report about credential rules. He also criticised reporters in 2020 for questioning the UFC's decision to hold fights during the pandemic. Reflecting on the early years, White noted in 2025 that venues initially rejected the sport, fearing the type of crowd it would attract after Senator John McCain once labelled it “human cockfighting”.