President Donald Trump announced on social media that he had offered the role of White House press secretary to UFC CEO Dana White, but he later stated to reporters that the offer was a joke. In a post on Truth Social on a Saturday, the president said he had requested White join the administration along with several professional fighters. The list of fighters mentioned included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Amanda Nunes.
On the following Sunday, the president clarified his remarks, telling reporters that he "was kidding, of course." He noted that the inclusion of various international fighters as potential assistants was intended to indicate the post was not serious. Despite the clarification, Mr. Trump confirmed he is scheduled to meet with White on Monday, though he did not disclose the purpose of the meeting.
White, who leads the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), added to the confusion on Saturday by posting an image of himself at the White House briefing room podium on Instagram with the caption, "On to the next chapter." During a news conference for a boxing event in London that same day, White told reporters he was flying to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president on Monday and would have more information following that discussion.
The White House press secretary position has been vacant since October 16, following the five-day tenure of conservative commentator Katie Zacharia. Zacharia had been selected to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August. The vacancy comes after Democrats gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in recent midterm elections.
The search for a White House press secretary affects the approximately 330 million people in the United States who rely on the office for official communication regarding federal policy, executive orders, and national security. The press secretary is the primary spokesperson for the president, responsible for holding briefings that translate government actions into information for the public.
For the White House press corps and news organizations, the continued vacancy since October 16 means there is no permanent official to facilitate daily inquiries or provide on-the-record responses to breaking events. This occurs as the federal government prepares to work with a new Congress following the midterm elections. The transition in legislative power usually requires coordination between the executive branch and the public to explain changes in law or budget priorities.
The situation also highlights the intersection of professional sports and executive governance, as White oversees a global sports league valued at more than $15 billion. While the president stated the job offer was in jest, the two men maintain a personal relationship and have previously collaborated on events, such as a UFC match held on the South Lawn in July. What happens next depends on the outcome of the meeting scheduled for Monday between the president and White.