Former Pentagon spokesperson Dana White issued a statement on Sunday, November 8, 2026, clarifying that she had not been selected as the next White House press secretary. The clarification followed social media speculation and a post from President Donald Trump suggesting he wanted Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), for the role.
The confusion began on Saturday, November 7, 2026, when President Trump posted on Truth Social that "Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other" and urged "Dana, please take the job!" Some social media users questioned whether the president had confused the UFC executive with Dana W. White, who served as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesperson from April 2017 to December 31, 2018.
On Sunday, November 8, 2026, President Trump stated he was "only kidding" about the suggestion to the UFC head. On Monday, November 9, 2026, the UFC executive met with the president and spoke with reporters, stating that while he does not tell the president "no," he also does not "want to be in politics."
In a LinkedIn post on Sunday, the former Pentagon spokesperson addressed those who had sent her congratulatory messages. "Thank you, but you have the wrong Dana White," she wrote. She noted that while she has experience at the Pentagon podium, she has "never stood in an octagon" and wished luck to the future press secretary.
The incident also impacts the professional reputation and daily operations of Dana W. White, the former Department of Defense official. She reported receiving numerous text messages from individuals who mistakenly believed she had returned to government service. This type of public confusion can temporarily affect the personal and professional communications of private citizens who share names with high-profile figures or potential political appointees.
What happens next: The position of White House press secretary remains to be officially filled. President Trump’s comments on Sunday indicated that his initial post regarding the UFC head was not a formal job offer. No specific date or deadline for the announcement of a permanent press secretary was reported. The UFC executive's meeting with the president on Monday concluded without a change in his stated desire to remain outside of formal politics.