Trump urges Dana White to become press secretary
Thestandard · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had offered Dana White, president and chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the job of White House press secretary, making the announcement in a Truth Social post. Trump described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and publicly appealed to him by writing, “Dana, please take the job!” He also said White should bring assistants with him and named several UFC fighters, including some who are not American. The White House has been without a press secretary since Katie Zacharia left the role on October 16 after less than a week in the job.
Key Points
- Trump said White had been offered the post of Press Secretary of the United States in a Saturday social media announcement.
- Trump asked White to bring assistants and listed six current or former UFC titleholders, including Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov from Dagestan.
- The other names Trump cited were Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, “Kayla Harris” — likely Kayla Harrison — and Amanda Nunes.
- Trump wrote that these figures were needed to defend against the “Lunatic Left,” framing the proposed team in overtly political terms.
- Accounts of White’s response diverged: CNN, cited by Reuters, said he declined, while Xinhua noted an Instagram post reading “On to the next chapter.”
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers following Washington, the episode shows how Trump continues to blur the line between political communications and celebrity-driven spectacle in staffing senior White House roles. It also draws attention to continuing instability in the press secretary position, which has been vacant since October 16 after Katie Zacharia’s brief tenure and followed Karoline Leavitt’s departure at the end of August.