Updated

Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 9

Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke After 1 Day of Speculation

Updated

Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 9

Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke After 1 Day of Speculation

Q: After fueling rumors with a cryptic photo, what is Dana White's actual business at the upcoming White House meeting?

Dana White is not expected to discuss becoming White House press secretary at Monday’s meeting. Trump said the offer was a joke and later clarified that the White House visit would be about “other matters.” What those matters are has not been publicly specified. White himself did not explain the agenda, saying only that he would meet Trump and would “have more to talk about after that.” Reporting also notes that White recently spoke about expanding Zuffa Boxing, the combat-sports venture he runs alongside UFC-related business interests, so sports and promotional business appear more likely topics than a government job. The confusion grew because White posted an image of himself at the White House briefing lectern with the caption “On to the next chapter,” which fueled speculation that he might be taking an administration role. But Trump’s subsequent comments, along with reports that White had declined the idea, indicate the meeting is not about him becoming press secretary. So the short answer is that White is going to the White House for unspecified “other matters,” with no evidence that he is there to accept the press secretary role.

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 9

Trump told reporters Sunday night he was “only kidding” when he publicly urged UFC CEO Dana White to take the White House press secretary job.
Saturday’s Truth Social post had triggered a day of speculation because Trump is reshuffling his administration after the midterms and the post appeared to announce a real offer.
White had said he would visit the White House on Monday to discuss the job, but Trump said the meeting would still happen and would cover “other matters” instead.
The role has effectively been vacant since late August; Trump’s October pick, Katie Zacharia, left after just 5 days, underscoring instability in a high-profile post.
Trump also amplified the episode Sunday by sharing a roughly 1-minute cartoon showing White and UFC fighters attacking reporters in the briefing room.