NAIROBI, Kenya – US President Donald Trump has made an unconventional pitch to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive Dana White, offering him the position of White House press secretary and suggesting that he bring six fighters to serve as his assistants.
The proposal, announced through Trump’s Truth Social account on Saturday, November 7, 2026, has triggered questions over whether the president is making a serious appointment offer or floating an unusual idea amid a shake-up in his administration.
Trump described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and urged him to accept the position, saying he wanted a press secretary who would defend his administration against what he called the “Lunatic Left”.
White has not publicly accepted or rejected the offer. Instead, he confirmed that he would meet Trump in Washington DC on Monday, November 9, promising to provide more information after their discussions.
“I have a meeting on Monday, so I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about after that,” White told reporters at a news conference in London following a boxing event.
Trump wants UFC fighters as White House press aides
In his social media announcement, Trump suggested that White should bring six current and former UFC fighters to work alongside him.
The proposed names included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
Trump acknowledged that some of the suggested recruits were not American citizens but did not explain what specific duties they would perform in the White House communications operation.
The president’s post included photographs of the fighters and an apparently AI-generated image depicting White behind the lectern in the White House briefing room.
White subsequently shared an image of himself at the briefing podium on Instagram Stories, accompanied by the caption, “On to the next chapter”.
However, neither the social media post nor White’s comments amounted to confirmation that he had agreed to take the job.
Conflicting reports emerge over whether White accepted
The apparent offer quickly attracted speculation after CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter, that White had declined the position.
The report also cited an administration aide who described Trump’s proposal as a joke.
White’s subsequent remarks in London, however, left the question unresolved. Rather than confirming a rejection, he said he was travelling to Washington for a meeting with the president.
When asked how he would balance the proposed government position with his existing responsibilities in the fighting industry, White responded that he already had several jobs.
The Monday meeting is therefore expected to provide greater clarity on whether Trump intends to pursue the appointment and whether White is interested in taking up the role.
White’s long-standing relationship with Trump
White is one of Trump’s prominent allies in the sports and entertainment industry and has publicly supported the president during his political campaigns.
Their relationship dates back to the early 2000s, when Trump’s casino properties hosted UFC events. Their association grew stronger over the years as Trump became a regular presence at UFC competitions.
White also campaigned for Trump during the 2024 presidential election and delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention praising the president.
In June 2026, the UFC staged a major fighting event on the White House grounds as part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The event further highlighted the close relationship between the president and the UFC leadership.
White House communications office faces another transition
The proposed appointment comes as Trump seeks to fill a vacancy in one of the administration’s most visible communications positions.
The role became vacant following the departure of Katie Zacharia, whose brief tenure reportedly lasted only five days.
Her exit followed controversy over her first press briefing and questions about her claims of being an attorney despite reportedly failing the bar examination.
The press secretary is responsible for communicating the president’s positions, responding to questions from journalists and defending administration policies during regular White House briefings.
