UFC CEO Dana White turned down President Donald Trump’s offer to become White House press secretary during a joint press briefing on Monday, ending a bizarre saga that began with a social media post over the weekend.
“Thank you for the offer, sir. I do not want to be in politics,” White said after Trump asked him if he wanted the job, pointing to the podium’s presidential seal and the words, “The White House, Washington.” Trump responded with mock disappointment, saying, “I am devastated to hear this. Goodbye, everyone.” The brief exchange closed a press conference held at the White House in Washington, D.C.
The unusual moment followed Trump’s Saturday post on Truth Social where he suggested White, a longtime friend, as the new press secretary. Trump later clarified on Sunday that he was “only kidding” but added, “Dana loves the idea.” The president said the comment came during a difficult press day when he thought of White as a potential press secretary to shake things up.
“We were having a very bad press day and I don’t know why, I thought of his name,” Trump explained on Monday. “He’s been a friend for a long time. I said, ‘I think I’m going to get Dana White to be my new press secretary.’ I said it to a group of the press and that was it. I was sort of kidding.”
White, who has maintained a close relationship with Trump for decades, said the last 24 hours had been “insane.” He had flown to Washington after attending a post-fight press conference for Zuffa Boxing 12 in London, a trip that Trump confirmed was scheduled in advance and unrelated to his social media post. Both men emphasized their meeting involved other business matters.
White’s ties with Trump stretch back to the early 2000s, when the UFC was still growing in the United States. Trump’s Atlantic City casino hosted two UFC events in 2001, and White has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s political campaigns, speaking at three Republican National Conventions and publicly endorsing him.
The brief press conference had an unusual tone as Trump invited White to take questions from reporters and then posed the offer directly. White’s refusal was delivered with a polite but firm tone, rejecting the idea of entering politics despite the appeal of the White House podium.
The pair’s interaction ended with Trump jokingly lamenting the loss of a potential press secretary and bidding the audience goodbye.
White’s initial reaction to the social media buzz had added fuel to the story. He posted a photo of himself at the White House press briefing podium with the caption, “On to the next chapter.” The image sparked speculation about whether White would make a surprising career shift. Yet Monday’s exchange confirmed White’s intention to remain with the UFC.
Trump and White’s back-and-forth highlighted the unusual nature of the moment, blending politics, sport, and media spectacle. The president’s idea, born out of frustration with his press relations, was clearly meant in jest but became a viral talking point.
After the press briefing, White returned to his role leading the UFC, while Trump moved on from the episode with a quip and a wave. The story that started as a social media joke ended with a straightforward answer: Dana White will not be the next White House press secretary.
According to Yahoo Sports.
