Trump offers UFC chief the post of White House press secretary
The offer follows the abrupt departure of Katie Zacharia and a recent reshuffling of the presidential leadership team.
By Rafael Bailey ·
President Donald Trump extended an offer to UFC president and chief executive officer Dana White for the role of United States press secretary on Saturday. The proposal places a sports executive in a high profile government communications role, a move that has drawn immediate attention from political observers and media figures alike.
In a post on Truth Social, the president described White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior” and stated he was pleased to announce the job offer. Trump also indicated that the position extended to White’s assistants, noting that some are not from the United States. He wrote that the team would be needed to “defend us against the Lunatic Left” and urged White to accept the role.
The suggestion comes after a brief tenure by the current press secretary. Katie Zacharia left the position in October, just five days after she began serving as the replacement for Karoline Leavitt. The president told reporters he suggested Zacharia quit after her first and only press briefing. This vacancy follows a leadership change announced Friday, when deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller was promoted to chief of staff to replace Susie Wiles.
White responded to the offer on Instagram Stories with a photograph of himself standing behind the White House press secretary’s lectern. He captioned the image, “On to the next chapter.” It remains unclear whether White has formally accepted the position or is acknowledging the request in a lighthearted manner. No official confirmation of an appointment has been issued as of the time of reporting.
The transition in the White House communications office has occurred rapidly. Zacharia’s five day stint marks the shortest service of a press secretary in recent years. The appointment of a figure from the sports industry signals a potential shift in the tone and personnel of the presidential newsroom. The next step in the process will depend on White’s decision to accept the offer and the subsequent vetting procedures required for senior executive branch staff.
