Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke

President Donald Trump said on November 9 that he had been joking when he offered UFC chief executive Dana White the job of White House press secretary. White said he had no political aspirations and did not want to enter government. No appointment was announced at the White House appearance.

The exchange followed a November 7 post on Trump’s Truth Social account saying he had offered White the position and urging him to accept. Trump also suggested UFC fighters could serve as assistants. White, who was in London for a Zuffa Boxing event when Trump called, said he waited to respond publicly until Trump spoke first.

At the White House, Trump asked White about taking the job. White thanked him for the offer and said he did not want to be in politics. When reporters asked whether he had declined, White said he had not told Trump no, explaining that he did not want to respond before the president addressed the offer.

Trump described the proposal as a joke and said the idea came to him on what he called a very bad press day. He said he had thought of White, a longtime friend, and that the two decided to appear together after the suggestion attracted attention. His account addressed...