Trump offers Dana White White House press secretary job, names UFC fighters as assistants

UFC CEO Dana White has been offered the job of White House press secretary by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a Truth Social post from the president on Saturday, November 7, 2026. It is not clear whether White has accepted.

"I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," Trump wrote. "I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris.

"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!"

White's response and acceptance unclear

After Trump's post, White shared an Instagram image of himself at the White House press briefing lectern with the caption "On to the next chapter." The BBC and Washington Post reported that it was unclear whether the post was serious or tongue-in-cheek. MMA Fighting likewise noted there has been no official announcement that White is accepting the offer.

The BBC said it had asked the White House and TKO Holdings, UFC's parent company, for comment. The Washington Post wrote that it was not immediately clear whether the UFC chief executive had accepted.

Role vacancy and White–Trump ties

The press secretary vacancy opened after Katie Zacharia left the role after only a few days in mid-October, following earlier turnover that included Karoline Leavitt. Trump's Saturday post came after Republicans lost their congressional majorities in the U.S. midterm elections.

White is a longtime Trump ally. He has credited Trump with helping the then-struggling UFC by hosting early events at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, spoke for Trump at Republican National Conventions, and worked with the administration on the outdoor UFC card held on the White House South Lawn in June 2026.

In November 2024, after Trump's election victory, White told the Sports Business Journal he wanted nothing to do with joining the administration, calling politics "disgusting" and "gross." Whether that stance has changed with Saturday's public offer remains unknown. MMA Fighting noted it is unclear if White would have to step aside as UFC CEO if he took the job.

Major combat-sports outlets including MMA Fighting and MMA Junkie carried the story within minutes of Trump's post, treating it as confirmed presidential messaging rather than rumor.

Any confirmation that White accepts or declines, or any official White House or TKO statement, should update this article.