President Donald Trump said on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that his social media post offering the White House press secretary role to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White was a joke. The president had posted on Truth Social on Saturday, November 7, describing White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior" and suggesting that several UFC fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Amanda Nunes, serve as his assistants. Trump told reporters on Sunday that the inclusion of the fighters in the post was intended to signal the offer was "just a little fun."
The public offer on Saturday led to online speculation that Trump may have confused the UFC executive with Dana W. White, a former Pentagon spokesperson who served as the chief of public affairs for the Department of Defense. Dana W. White, who has also worked for the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, clarified on LinkedIn that she was not the person referenced in Trump's post. She noted that while she has experience at the Pentagon podium, she has never been in a fighting octagon.
The UFC CEO, who is 57, shared an image of himself at the White House press podium on Instagram with the caption, "On to the next chapter." During a news conference in London on Saturday, he noted he had "a lot of jobs already" but confirmed he was traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president on Monday, November 9. Trump confirmed the scheduled meeting on Sunday but did not disclose the purpose of the discussion.
The White House press secretary position has been vacant since October 16, 2026, when Katie Zacharia was removed from the role after five days. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who served as chief spokesperson for 19 months before resigning in August 2026. The vacancy occurs as Democrats prepare to take control of both the House and the Senate following their wins in the recent midterm elections.
The White House communications office coordinates messaging for the federal government. The administration is currently without a permanent official to address inquiries from media outlets. The UFC is valued at $15 billion. The appointment of a press secretary does not require Senate confirmation.
What happens next: President Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are scheduled to meet at the White House on Monday, November 9, 2026. While Trump stated his social media offer was a joke, the meeting occurs as the administration faces a press secretary vacancy that has lasted more than three weeks. The White House has not yet named a formal successor to Katie Zacharia. Future briefings and the official communication of the administration’s response to the recent midterm election results remain pending the selection of a new spokesperson.