WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In an extraordinary shattering of presidential protocol, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly offered the job of White House press secretary to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White. The unconventional job offer came alongside a request that the multi-millionaire promoter bring an entourage of world-class cage fighters to the briefing room to serve as press assistants.
The public plea, broadcast across Trump’s Truth Social network, describes the 57-year-old MMA tycoon as “a violent Fighter and Warrior.” The development signals an aggressive shift in the administration’s public relations strategy following severe Republican setbacks in the midterm elections earlier in the week.
The Briefing Room Entourage
In his public pitch, Trump suggested that White’s combative style is exactly what the executive branch requires to confront journalists.
“Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other,” Trump wrote. “Dana, please take the job!”
Taking the theatrical proposal a step further, the president accompanied his post with an image of White behind the White House podium, flanked by photos of six current and former UFC titleholders. Trump explicitly requested that White employ these athletes as federal press aides, despite noting that some are foreign citizens.
Trump’s proposed entourage features stars like Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Nunes, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, and Kayla Harrison—whose name was misspelled as “Harris” by the president. He defended the proposal by arguing the administration needs them to “defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
Shaking Off the Midterm Defeat
The theatrical overture arrives as the administration reels from midterm losses that handed Democrats control of Congress. The press secretary role has faced severe instability following the five-day tenure of far-right commentator Katie Zacharia and the earlier departure of Karoline Leavitt. Concurrently, Stephen Miller was named White House Chief of Staff to replace Susie Wiles, signaling a harder-edged strategy.
Monday Meeting in the Oval Office
While White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly cheered the idea, White addressed the viral post during a boxing press conference in London, noting his existing obligations with the UFC, slap-fighting, boxing, and Meta. White confirmed he was flying to Washington to discuss the matter with Trump on Monday. Sources suggest White is expected to turn down the $195,000 position to remain in sports promotion, though the spectacle underscores his decades-long alliance with Trump.
By playfully merging the briefing room with MMA culture, Trump is signaling a combative posture for the political battles ahead.